Brazil’s National Development Bank announced it has approved a $10.8 billion loan to the consortium that is building the Belo Monte dam.
Mongabay
With more than one million unique visitors per month, Mongabay.com is one of the world’s most popular environmental science and conservation news sites. The news and rainforests sections of the site are widely cited for information on tropical forests, conservation, and wildlife. Mongabay.com seeks to raise interest in and appreciation of wild lands and wildlife, while examining the impact of emerging trends in climate, technology, economics, and finance on conservation and development.
Unique program to leave oil beneath Amazonian paradise raises $300 million
The Yasuni-ITT Initiative has raised 8 percent of the total amount needed to fully fund the idea.
Dams are “the main weapon of greenwashing” in the Amazon
Brazil’s plans to build 30 dams in the Amazon basin could end any attempt made by the country to protect the forest, said Philip Fearnside, from Inpa.
Most controversial aspects of Brazil’s new Forest Code vetoed as legislation signed into law
Brazilian President signed into law a revised version of the country’s Forest Code, vetoing some of the most controversial changes proposed by agricultural interests in Congress.
Amazon deforestation jumps in August
Satellite imagery released by the Brazil’s National Space Research Institute (INPE) reveals a sharp jump in deforestation during the month of August. See infographic
New forest map shows 6% of Amazon deforested between 2000 and 2010
An update to one of the most comprehensive maps of the Amazon basin shows that forest cover across the world’s largest rainforest declined by about 6% between 2000 and 2010. See updated map in full screen
Pictures: Bolivian park may have the world’s highest biodiversity
Madidi National Park in Bolivia may be the world’s most biodiverse place, according to survey by the the Bolivian Park Service and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
Amazon deforestation could trigger drop in rainfall across South America
Deforestation could cause rainfall across the Amazon rainforest to drop precipitously.
Bolivia should prioritize cattle ranching, law enforcement in deforestation fight
Bolivia should prioritize environmental law enforcement and slowing expansion of large-scale cattle ranching to reduce Amazon deforestation, argues a study by CIFOR.
Rainforest’s fungi and plants, fuel rainfall
Salt compounds released by fungi and plants in the Amazon rainforest have an important role in the formation of rain clouds, reports research published in the journal Science.