|
|
THE POSSIBLE AMAZON
Marina Silva
DECEMBER 2008 (IPS) - The Amazon constitutes a strategic reserve of potential for a new kind
of development for Brazil. The opportunities depend on a structural
change in focus which has already been made by some sectors of
society, government, and businesses, but at a scale that is still
insufficient, writes Marina Silva, senator and former environment
minister of Brazil.
In this article, the author writes that the Amazon can only be treated
and understood correctly if Brazil is too. The government should
ensure that the levels of socio-environmental governance achieved in
the Amazon are maintained. Land-use zoning should continue to advance.
It is essential to continue reducing that frontier of vacant lands
and, at the same time, continue increasing protected areas,
structuring them so that they serve environmental, social and economic
functions.
Preserving the Amazon and promoting improvements in the lives of its
population is a civilisational challenge for Brazil and the world. Our
success will depend on the perseverance of local officials in
continuing to expand environmental governance and on the political
support of society to ensure that the process is not interrupted.
//NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN CANADA, NEW ZEALAND, CZECH REPUBLIC, IRELAND,
POLAND, THE UNITED STATES, AND THE UNITED KINGDOM// (END/2008)
|
|
|
|
|
What is RSS?
