Brazil Rejects Amnesty For Contributors To Amazon Deforestation

Brasilia, Brazil (AHN) - A report suggesting amnesty for Brazilian landowners who were proven responsible for a fraction of the Amazon forest's deforestation was rejected by the Brazilian government Monday.

The bill, which urged landowners be given looser restrictions in terms of clearing areas of the rainforest, was criticized by Environment Minister Marina Silva, and Agriculture Minister Reinhold Stephanes.

Silva said that there will be no amnesty "for those behind illegal deforestation or on any weakening of legislation" aimed to preserve the rainforest, according to the AFP.

She added that approval of the bill "would not result in lesser deforestation but rather the legalization of passive environment protection, and would cause more deforestation."

Brazil has been fighting against deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, which it has recognized as the "lungs" of the planet.

The Brazilian government had celebrated a 59 percent decrease in the rate of deforestation - an activity that has been responsible for 75 percent of the country's total carbon emissions, according to the Deccan Herald.

Recently, however, there has been an increase in the deforestation rate within the country.

Efforts to cut deforestation rates have been actively under way, ever since the spike in the activity during the last half of the previous year.