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Published online 7 April 2009 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2009.344
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Amazonian reserves have fewer fires
Satellite data reveal less deforestation in Brazil's protected parks.
Protected areas can rapidly become parks only on paper if their status as reserves is not backed by the authorities and supported with cash. But a study by scientists in the United States suggests that efforts to protect parts of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest could be working.
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As a Brazilian citizen, and as a biologist, I say that it is hard to believe that this situation will last long. As it is reported in the article, the deforestation has only stopped because of the road, that is currently unpaved and impassible. However, we all know that here in Brazil the governament is not stricted in its measures to stop with the deforestation in the North of Brazil. Moreover, what is worst is that the legal institution responsable for protecting these areas (IBAMA) is useless. I think that it is about time that other contries start to pressure South American contries to protect their forests, otherwise the climate situation will rapidly change and interfer everybody's lives. What we all need is teamwork!