Good morning! Today, we look at the tenth anniversary of Brazil’s Forest Code and where it has fallen short. Another deadly police massacre in a Rio de Janeiro favela. Petrobras set for board discussion over latest CEO swap.
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The net result of Brazil’s ten-year-old Forest Code
Passed in May 2012, Brazil’s new Forest Code turns ten today — at a time deforestation rates have climbed faster than at any point over the past decade. Here’s what you need to know about this piece of legislation, which has yet to be fully implemented:
The code. The document sets the rules for the use and preservation of forest resources and vegetation in rural properties across the country. It was first published in 1934 and updated two times, in 1965 and 2012.
Why it matters. Most of Brazil’s forests (more precisely, 53 percent) are situated on private land.
Preservation. Two key elements of the Forest Code are permanent protection areas (APPs, in Portuguese) and minimum preservation requirements for landowners (which ranges from 80 percent...