Brazil seizes cattle to stem Amazon destruction

[Judi Lynn]

Brazil seizes cattle to stem Amazon destruction
Tue 24 Jun 2008, 16:58 GMT

By Raymond Colitt

BRASILIA, June 24 (Reuters) - Brazil seized thousands of head of cattle in the Amazon as part of a crackdown on illegal farming and logging, which fuels destruction of the world's largest rain forest, the environment minister said on Tuesday.

The announcement follows growing international concern over rising deforestation rates and the resignation last month of the former minister Marina Silva, who was widely seen as a guardian of the Amazon.

Brazil's powerful farmers, who are riding a global commodity boom, are likely to contest increased controls.

Police and agents from the environmental protection agency IBAMA impounded about 10,000 head of cattle on illegally deforested land in the state of Rondonia. Last week they expropriated a 3,500-strong herd in the state of Para, the new Environment Minister Carlos Minc told a news conference.

More:
http://africa.reuters.com/commodities/news/usnN24363938.html