MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil to auction patches of Amazon forest to held combat illegal logging

Antonio Carlos Hummel, the head of Brazil’s National Forestry Service

Brazilian Government is to auction one million hectares of Amazon forest in an attempt to reduce the demand for illegal logging.

Illegal logging has reportedly destroyed almost 20% of the Amazon, and the Government’s proposals will see logging being more controlled: only as many trees as the forest can naturally generate will be cleared.

By the end of the year, one million hectares will be sold to private companies, although this will rise to 11 million hectares by 2015.

Antonio Carlos Hummel, the head of Brazil’s National Forestry Service was quoted saying, “The future of the Amazon -- combating deforestation and climate change -- is strengthening forest management. I don't see any other solution.”

The Brazilian Government has already auctioned some 150,000 hectares over the past seven years. Hummel added that, “concessions actually helped establish more state control in the often lawless Amazon region, where settlers and speculators often illegally occupied public lands.”

Last week, it was reported that deforestation in the Amazon was at its lowest for two decades, as a result of the Brazilian Government’s policies and tougher controls.

Fines, confiscation of equipment and withdrawing bank loans are just some of the punishments illegal loggers now face. In reference to this Hummel said, “Unless such tough controls are maintained, illegal logging could undermine demand for more expensive timber from managed forests.”