Peru opened this week a military base in the Amazon in a bid to tackle illegal mining, the main culprit for deforestation in the world's largest rainforest. “The government has taken the political decision to be present in this region to eradicate illegal mining,” said Defense Minister Jose Huerta at the inauguration of the base in the Tambopata nature reserve.
Deforestation in the Amazon increased by nearly a third over the past year, according to Brazilian government figures released this week, confirming a feared reversal in what had been steady progress over the past decade against destruction of the world's largest rainforest.
Brazil announced plans to protect an additional 10 000km² of land and pledged not to let economic woes stop it from implementing other measures to protect the environment.
Brazil will boost its military presence in the Amazon region to protect its huge natural resources from any external threat, Defence Minister Celso Amorim told the Senate on Thursday.
Brazil’s Lower house of Congress on Wednesday approved a bill that weakens the country’s benchmark environmental law protecting the Amazon and other areas, a move that some fear will lead to a spike in deforestation.
Hundreds of indigenous people protesting the construction of a road in Bolivia's Amazon basin region are again marching toward the capital, La Paz, their leaders said.