THE president of Brazil secured 58.7 million dollars to save Amazon – the world’s largest tropical rainforest- against deforestation.
The Brazilian Amazon has been subject to massive and illegal deforestation for decades now. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced a measure to save the world’s largest tropical rainforest from the brink of collapse and destruction.
The initiative called “Amazon Plan: Security and Sovereignty,” covers 6.3 million square kilometers (2.4 million square miles) of the tropical rainforest.
In an aim to strengthen security, boats, and helicopters will be deployed to monitor the Brazilian Amazon to combat criminal organizations that cut down and burn the forest.
International police cooperation located at the center of the city of Manaus in the heart of the Amazon will also be installed.
Intelligence officials from the South American countries whose land comprises the Amazon will be tasked to manage the center.
Amazon Fund, an internationally financed initiative created to protect the rainforest will fund the initiative estimated at 58.7 million.
The Amazon covers South American countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, Guyana, and Suriname.
60 percent of the rainforest is found in Brazil.
Amazon is known as the lungs of planet Earth. The tropical rainforest is responsible for the production of about 20% of the earth’s oxygen.
The Brazilian President has promised to end illegal deforestation in Brazil by 2030.
