Amazon deforestation dropping, despite land use change predicted by ILUC?

[JohnWxy]

http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2009/06/01/amazon-deforestation-dropping-despite-land-use-change-predicted-by-iluc/


“Amazon deforestation has fallen for the past five years, from 10,588 square miles in 2004 to 4,620 square miles last year, according to figures from Brazil’s National Institute of Space Research (INPE).”


Indirect Land Use Change models suggest that increased ethanol production in the US should lead to increased Amazonian deforestation. Gartlan also reports that a “recent study by the Imazon research group showed that only 4 percent of the Amazon, or 50 million acres, has recognized land title. Around 32 percent has already been invaded illegally, while 43 percent is protected in the form of national parks and Indian reserves.”

In addition, DTN is reporting that US corn and bean exports are remaining steady or increasing while Brazilian corn and soybean acreage is holding steady or shrinking. In addition, Gartlan writes, “A study carried out by the Soybean Work Group (GTS) earlier this year showed that of 630 samples of deforested areas since July 2006 only 12 had gone to soybeans and 200 to cattle. The remaining 418, or 70 percent, were unused indicating that the main reason for cutting down trees was for timber and land grabbing.”
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What's this, empirical data from the time period when ethanol production was actually happening and increasing?? What will M$M say?? absolutely nothing! LOL