A farming boom in Brazil’s Amazon jungle is causing concern to environmentalists who say the amount of land cleared for agriculture went up sharply again in 2003-2004.
Forest destruction rose to 10,088 square miles from 9,496 square miles a year earlier, and there are fears that the expansion of soy and cattle farming into the Amazon will prove unstoppable.
Environment minister Marina Silva said the figure was very high but that the government would work to fight deforestation in a structured way, with lasting and effective action, involving all sectors.
Figures from WWF maintain that 17.3% of the Amazon has been destroyed.
