Do More With Reuters
Partner Services

Brazil to pay Amazon small farmers to plant trees

Sat Jun 20, 2009 4:44am IST
 
Email | Print | | Single Page
[-] Text [+]

* Move may help stave off global pressure

* Lula says it's time to change deforestation habits

* 'We want to be reasonable'

By Stuart Grudgings and Brian Ellsworth

BRASILIA, June 19 (Reuters) - Brazil will pay small farmers to plant trees in deforested Amazon areas to slow rain forest degradation, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Friday as he unveiled a broad plan to protect the region.

The effort may help stave off growing international pressure on Brazil to reduce deforestation that scientists say spurs global warming, providing alternative livelihoods to poor Amazon dwellers who live off timber exploitation.

"We need to think about how to make those people feel that they will make more money by planting trees than by cutting them down," Lula said in an interview after a ceremony to inaugurate the "Green Arch" program to protect the Amazon.

"The small (agricultural) producers that plant trees in areas that were degraded, we're going to pay them $51 per month." He did not offer further details on the program.

The proposal appears similar to schemes proposed by global conservation groups that Brazil has largely resisted that would pay rain forest residents to prevent deforestation that causes 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.   Continued...

Construction workers work at a site as the sun sets in Chandigarh in this December 2006 file photo. REUTERS/Ajay Verma
Economy seen growing at 7.2 pct in FY10 - govt

The forecast reinforces the possibility that the government may start to unwind its fiscal stimulus in the budget.  Full Article 

Market Update

  • IndiaIndia
  • USUS
  • UKUK
  • Asia
  • Most Actives
Greece's Finance Minister Papaconstantinou addresses reporters during a news conference in Athens, January 20, 2010.
Eurozone agreed in principle to aid Greece

Euro zone countries have decided in principle to help debt-stricken Greece, a senior German ruling coalition source said.  Full Article 

FROM THE MARKETS

After the Bell
After the Bell

Reuters Money's Kshitij Anand updates you on the movers and shakers of the Indian stock market.  Blog 

SHOWCASE

"Claw Back" Pay
"Claw Back" Pay

Banks and regulators hope that threats to "claw back" pay if trades later blow up will rein in risk taking on Wall Street.  Full Article 

 
James Saft
Blaming Asperger's

COLUMN - Did Asperger's help cause the financial crisis?  Full Article 

 
Going Global
Going Global

With Volvo, Chinese eye M&A abroad to win at home.  Full Article 

 
Delivery Woes
Delivery Woes

Boeing 787 delivery schedule could slip - experts.  Full Article 

 
Central Banks Cautious
Central Banks Cautious

Reuters tracks the policies of the world's top central banks as the debate over global economic recovery rages on.   Full Coverage