- Title: Brazil's vice president says country will rein in Amazon deforestation and fires
- Date: 15th July 2020
- Summary: BRASILIA, BRAZIL (JULY 15, 2020) (REUTERS) BRAZILIAN VICE PRESIDENT, HAMILTON MOURAO, STANDING AT LECTERN AT NEWS CONFERENCE MOURAO (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZILIAN VICE PRESIDENT, HAMILTON MOURAO, SAYING: "We will seek to reduce the rates of deforestation and fires to the minimum acceptable, demonstrating to the international community and to Brazilian society our commitment and making it clear that zero-deforestation and economic development are not mutually exclusive, rather, that is our great task."
- Embargoed: 29th July 2020 19:08
- Keywords: Amazon Brazil Vice President Hamilton Mourao deforestation destruction environment fires indigenous jungle rainforest
- Location: RAINFOREST AREA CLOSE TO HUMAITA CITY, RONDONIA STATE, NEAR AUARIS & NEAR ALTO ALEGRE, RORAIMA STATE, AND BRASILIA, BRAZIL
- City: RAINFOREST AREA CLOSE TO HUMAITA CITY, RONDONIA STATE, NEAR AUARIS & NEAR ALTO ALEGRE, RORAIMA STATE, AND BRASILIA, BRAZIL
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Environment
- Reuters ID: LVA002CMX9JK7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS NOTE: CONTAINS PARTIAL NUDITY IN SHOT 11
Brazilian Vice President Hamilton Mourao told a news conference on Wednesday (July 15) the country would, "seek to reduce the rates of deforestation and fires to the minimum acceptable," in the Amazon rainforest and added, "zero-deforestation and economic development are not mutually exclusive."
The government of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is under pressure after government data earlier this month showed that deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rose for the 14th consecutive month in June.
Researchers and environmental advocates blame Bolsonaro for emboldening illegal loggers, ranchers and land speculators by weakening environmental enforcement and calling for more commercial mining and farming in the Amazon to develop the economy.
Bolsonaro says he is being unfairly demonized and that Brazil has an exemplary environmental track record, pointing to vast swathes of forest that remain standing.
Following global pressure, especially from foreign investment firms, Bolsonaro has deployed the military to combat deforestation since May and also banned fires in the Amazon region for 120 days.
Scientists say that preserving the Amazon, the world's largest rainforest, is vital to curbing climate change because of the vast amount of greenhouse gas it absorbs and stores.
(Production: Leonardo Benassatto, Patrick Alwine) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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