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Greenpeace uncovers an illegal logging operation in the Amazon. Brazilian Federal Police have launched a crack down on illegal logging operations in one part of the Amazon.
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During the investigations, 283 Forest Management Plans were suspended
and another 36 were cancelled indefinitely. Also, 431 "ghost logging
companies" were exposed all over the Mato Grosso State. The operation
also exposed false ATPFs (Authorization of Forest Products Transport),
which are a way of "laundering" authorisations in order to use them
again. The operation involved 450 Federal Police agents and 31
IBAMA agents and is the largest ever carried out by the Federal Police
in the Brazilian Amazon.
Our Amazon Campaign Coordinator, Paulo Adario said, "It is important to stress that the arrests of loggers and IBAMA agents today in Mato Grosso are not isolated cases. The Federal Police and IBAMA should extend this kind of investigation to other Amazon States, such as Para and Rondonia, where deforestation and illegal logging are rampant. Also, the federal agencies such as IBAMA, Federal Police and INCRA (the National Institute of Colonisation and Land Reform) need to be strengthened and prepared to fight illegal logging, land grabbing, deforestation and crimes against human rights."
More good news for the Amazon
On another positive note, in a major move toward Amazon forest protection, the governor and the major of São Paulo have announced their aim to join Greenpeace's Amazon Friendly City Campaign. On World Environment Day the State Governor of São Paulo, Geraldo Alckmin, and the Mayor of São Paulo, José Serra, made an important contribution to protect the Amazon. Both governments formally joined our "Amazon Friendly City" campaign - effectively closing the door to illegal timber. They also issued a decree demanding suppliers to present evidence of the legal origin of the timber on all public purchases.
Rebeca Lerer, our Amazon campaigner, said, "After a run of bad news such as the murder of Sister Dorothy Stang and the high levels of Amazon deforestation, we finally have something to celebrate. São Paulo is the world's largest consumer of Amazon timber. Today's decision will close the door to illegal timber and will oblige suppliers to comply with the new environmental standards. Those who work illegally have just lost a great slice of the market."
Our Amazon Campaign Coordinator, Paulo Adario said, "It is important to stress that the arrests of loggers and IBAMA agents today in Mato Grosso are not isolated cases. The Federal Police and IBAMA should extend this kind of investigation to other Amazon States, such as Para and Rondonia, where deforestation and illegal logging are rampant. Also, the federal agencies such as IBAMA, Federal Police and INCRA (the National Institute of Colonisation and Land Reform) need to be strengthened and prepared to fight illegal logging, land grabbing, deforestation and crimes against human rights."
More good news for the Amazon
On another positive note, in a major move toward Amazon forest protection, the governor and the major of São Paulo have announced their aim to join Greenpeace's Amazon Friendly City Campaign. On World Environment Day the State Governor of São Paulo, Geraldo Alckmin, and the Mayor of São Paulo, José Serra, made an important contribution to protect the Amazon. Both governments formally joined our "Amazon Friendly City" campaign - effectively closing the door to illegal timber. They also issued a decree demanding suppliers to present evidence of the legal origin of the timber on all public purchases.
Rebeca Lerer, our Amazon campaigner, said, "After a run of bad news such as the murder of Sister Dorothy Stang and the high levels of Amazon deforestation, we finally have something to celebrate. São Paulo is the world's largest consumer of Amazon timber. Today's decision will close the door to illegal timber and will oblige suppliers to comply with the new environmental standards. Those who work illegally have just lost a great slice of the market."
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