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Brazil passes new land use legislation
07/12/2011
New legislation has been approved by the Brazilian Senate that redraws the limits and guidelines on how much Amazonian land the nation's farmers must preserve as forest.
The law governing the land use has been realigned in the wake of the country's best deforestation figures since 1988 and the increasing awareness of sustainable working practices and land use among farmers and the commercial timber industry.
Prior to its passing, the supporters of the bill claimed that the nation needed more detailed distinctions on land use, due to the growing food production need. When the bill went before the senate this week it was passed on a vote of 59 to seven.
The legislation will now be passed back to the Chamber of Deputies, which in May voted to overhaul the Forest Code, where further amendments are expected to be made. A final draft will then be passed on to President Dilma Rousseff, to be signed into law.
Senator Katia Abreu, the president of Brazil's National Agriculture and Livestock Association (CNA), welcomed the passing of the bill, stating that it showed that the country's land could be made use of for human purposes, while at the same time preserving the vital rainforest resources.
An official statement from the CNA said Brazil would be able to "respond to the world's growing demand for food, as it continues to be a leading example in the preservation of its forests and biodiversity."
The law governing the land use has been realigned in the wake of the country's best deforestation figures since 1988 and the increasing awareness of sustainable working practices and land use among farmers and the commercial timber industry.
Prior to its passing, the supporters of the bill claimed that the nation needed more detailed distinctions on land use, due to the growing food production need. When the bill went before the senate this week it was passed on a vote of 59 to seven.
The legislation will now be passed back to the Chamber of Deputies, which in May voted to overhaul the Forest Code, where further amendments are expected to be made. A final draft will then be passed on to President Dilma Rousseff, to be signed into law.
Senator Katia Abreu, the president of Brazil's National Agriculture and Livestock Association (CNA), welcomed the passing of the bill, stating that it showed that the country's land could be made use of for human purposes, while at the same time preserving the vital rainforest resources.
An official statement from the CNA said Brazil would be able to "respond to the world's growing demand for food, as it continues to be a leading example in the preservation of its forests and biodiversity."
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