Several Brazilian states are pushing to weaken forest-protection laws (a move that goes against the countrys environmental goals). The push comes from big-time farming groups who want more land for cattle-raising and soy-growing business
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who came back as leader about a year ago‚ managed to slow down tree cutting in Amazon; however local governments dont share his eco-friendly approach. Their actions might hurt Brazilʼs big promise — to stop forest loss by 2030
The situation is extra-worrying because cutting down trees adds lots of carbon to the air: this makes Brazil one of the worlds biggest pollution makers. The clash between state and federal interests shows how hard it is to balance farming profit with nature protection in South Americas biggest country