"The Amazon Devastated"

The original article is written in Spanish and describes the latest deforestation figures for the Amazon. It refers to CIFOR’s research into the impact cattle ranching has on the Amazon’s forests: “Right now, Brazil is the world's second largest exporter of soybeans, after the United States, and one of the main exporters of beef. Consumption of Brazilian meat in Europe and of soybeans is one of the causes of the rapid increase in Amazon deforestation according to David Kaimowitz, the Director General of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). The European Union imports from Brazil almost 40% of the 578.000 tons of beef consumed each year in Europe. Brazil has more than 60 million head of cattle, of which more than 30% are in the Amazon. Brazil currently controls more than 20% of the world beef market.”