Rio de Janeiro, 2 sep (EFE).-62.1% of the entire area of the Amazon until now devastated Brazil was converted to grassland, especially for livestock, and only 4.9% in agricultural crops, according to a study released today by the Government Brazilian.
In compensation in 21% of the Amazon rainforest destroyed emerged a secondary vegetation or forests of exotic species that suggest in a process of reforestation of the Amazon, according to the study prepared by the State National Institute of space research (INPE).
The study, which also included researchers from the Brazilian Enterprise for agricultural research (Embrapa), was done with satellite images and visits to the field in the 719.210 square kilometers of the Amazon region had been cleared until 2008.
This area devastated until three years ago corresponds to about 18% of all Amazon at Brazil.
According to the study of areas destroyed in the Amazon, all the more rainforest in the world, a 46.7% is currently occupied by clean grass, i.e. areas in which an investment was made to prepare them for the breeding of cattle.
The remaining 15.4% in areas covered in grassland is already degraded pasture or abandoned.
Just 0.5% of the cleared areas was used for the construction of cities and 0.1% for activities mining.
The authors of the study recognized that they could not establish the current use of 6.3% of the Amazon rainforest destroyed by lack of visibility of satellites or difficult access.
According to the director of the INPE, Gilberto camera, the result of the study showed that, despite the fact that Brazil is the world’s largest producer of meat and largest herd in the world, livestock productivity in the Amazon region is low.
“The study shows that the livestock in Brazil is still extensive and it is necessary to adopt public policies to improve the use of the land that was stolen from nature,” said Chamber in a wheel press.
The land used for the livestock in the Amazon have on average only a head of cattle per hectare and these areas often are abandoned by the lack of productivity.
“Less than a head per hectare is something unacceptable.” “It is a waste to replace the forest with something that does not give return to the country,” said for his part the Minister of environment, Teixeira. Izabella
According to camera, the study also showed that deforestation, contrary to what you allege defenders of logging, did not stir growth for the country.
“Not take the jungle destroyed to more productive use, which would be agriculture (4.9%),” said.
Teixeira said that data leave without weight the arguments of those who advocate an easing of the forestry code to allow increasing areas of cultivation in the country.
“This proven that land deforested in the Amazon are not used for agriculture”, according to the Minister.
“Brazil has no reason to relax.” There is no reason to increase the logging. “We already have enough area to increase production” agreed Minister of science, technology and innovation, Aloizio Mercadante.
In compensation for the devastation, in 21% of the Amazon rainforest destroyed emerged a secondary vegetation or forests of exotic species. EFE/file
