Brazil eyes limits on Amazon sugar cane growth

The Brazilian government presented new legislation Thursday intended to protect the Amazon from deforestation by banning any new planting of sugar cane, widely cultivated for ethanol production.

“Now we can say that our ethanol is 100 percent green,” said Environment Minister Carlos Minc announcing the proposed rules.
The legislation would ban new clearing or planting of the crop in more than 90 percent of Brazil’s territory, as well as the construction of new factories in rainforested areas across the country.

The bill, which must be approved by legislators, encourages sugar cane cultivation in areas that have already been cleared.

AFP