Latest on Brazil’s Forest Code

The Brazilian Senate could be about to strip the Amazon forest of hard-won protections and open up new areas for agriculture and cattle ranching. This week, representatives from WWF-Brazil and around 200 other organisations demonstrated outside the Congress in Brasilia and delivered a petition - signed by over 1.5 million Brazilians - urging the President, Dilma Rousseff, to oppose changes to the country's Forest Code. Read on to find out the latest update and what it means for Sky Rainforest Rescue.

Quick catch-up on the Forest Code

Earlier this year, Brazil's House of Representatives, backed by powerful agribusiness interests, passed controversial revisions to the nation's long-standing forest protection legislation, or Forest Code as it's known. One of the most progressive pieces of environmental legislation in the world, the law protects sensitive forest areas and establishes the amount of forest that can be legally converted to different uses.

The draft reforms were then passed to the Senate for review. But despite hopes that senators would revise some of the more regressive elements of the law, only a few changes have been made that don't really address the big problems.

Now the whole Senate must vote before the draft goes back to the House of Representatives and, finally, for authorisation or veto by the President. Those proposing the changes are pushing for her to make a final decision before the end of the year.

Scientists and other critical sectors ignored

The new version of the law has been rushed through both the House of Representatives and Senate without the input of critical sectors, as WWF-Brazil's CEO Maria Cecilia Wey de Brito points out:

Input from scientists, researchers, family farmers and social groups has been systematically ignored in both the House and Senate. You cannot argue that a law favours Brazil's development and wellbeing when so many leading experts say otherwise. The entire process has defied common sense."

Brazil's environmental leadership in doubt ahead of Rio+20

The proposed changes also severely contradict Brazil's recent efforts to position itself as a global environmental leader. Brazil has committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 40%, and to reduce Amazon deforestation by 80% - both by 2020. If the Forest Code is relaxed as suggested, it would be very likely impossible to meet either of these goals.

In June 2012, Brazil will host the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, known as 'Rio+ 20'. It marks the 20th anniversary of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, which was a turning point for global conservation. Rolling back protection of the Amazon could severely damage the country's reputation as it hosts this and other upcoming global events, including the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics.

We are watching, just before Brazil hosts Rio+20, a clear attempt to dismantle Brazil's environmental legislation," says Wey de Brito. "This is something unprecedented in our history."

What does it mean for Sky Rainforest Rescue?

Although we can't yet say for sure what impact any changes to the Forest Law will have, what is certain is that states like Acre are setting a vitally important example in this critical time. Over the past decade, Acre has reduced deforestation faster than the Brazilian national average, while economic growth and a number of social indicators (including literacy, infant mortality and sanitation) have improved. The intelligent use of existing technology along with a strong commitment from the state government has made it possible to increase agricultural production without cutting down more forest – a fact which starkly contradicts the arguments that are fuelling the proposed changes.

What we're doing – and how you could help

Together with a committee of around 200 organizations, known as the Comitê Brasil, WWF in Brazil has been actively lobbying the Congress to take on board the concerns of scientists, environmentalists and small-scale farmers who are challenging the changes to the Forest Code.

Now they'll be turning their attention to the President, who earlier this year promised, "to prevent any changes in law that would allow illegal deforestation or give amnesty to environmental criminals." And they have public support too - a recent poll showed that nearly 80% of Brazilians would back a Presidential veto.

Depending on what happens at the final vote, we might well be needing your help to add overseas voices to the Comitê Brasil's passionate efforts on this vital issue, which in the long run affects the whole planet. Please keep an eye on our website and Facebook feeds over the coming days to find out how you might be able to help.