American study distorted in campaign to allow more deforestation in Brazilia

A study released in May that looks at how U.S agriculture and forest industries will benefit financially from reduced deforestation in tropical countries is being used in the fight to water down the Brazilian Forest Code.

Glenn Horowitz, director of Avoided Deforestation Partners (ADP), responsible for the paper, told Solve Climate that “some interests in Brazil wildly misrepresented the report”, using it as an example of how the international interests will hurt the agricultural sector. The report was written for American readers and was not meant to represent impacts on Brazil.

The ‘ruralistas’, a group of right-wing legislatures in Brazilia are using agribusiness interests to ignite a firestorm in Congress over part of the 45 year-old Brazilian Forest Code which has reportedly protected over 100 million hectares of forest. Under the current law, Brazilian landowners are allowed to clear 20 percent of their forests but must keep 80 percent in tact. The new bill could shrink that proportion to 50-50.

The report claims that “ending deforestation through incentives in United States and international climate action would boost U.S. agricultural revenue by an estimated $190 to $270 billion between 2012 and 2030.” It goes on to say that forestry offsets would save U.S. industries $49 billion in compliance payments due to lower energy and fertilizer costs.

13 environmental organisations have appealed to their supporters to fight the bill.

http://www.oeco.com.br/salada-verde/24123-mais-um-capitulo-da-guerra-pelo-codigo-florestal-