Brazilian ranchers accused of illegally clearing land

[Judi Lynn]

Brazilian ranchers accused of illegally clearing land
New images suggest Brazilian ranching companies are destroying Paraguayan forests to clear land for cattle grazing.
Stephanie Garlow
August 23, 2011 12:12

The tiny country of Paraguay now exports more beef than Argentina, long the carnivore capital of the world.

But for the country's indigenous tribes, the beef bonanza has meant a series of battles with ranchers accused of illegally clearing land for cattle.

In June the aid group Survival International released images showing that 4,000 hectares of forest had been destroyed. Two Brazilian ranching companies were charged with illegal deforestation.

~snip~
The Ayoreo indigenous tribe has been steadily losing its ancestral lands as forests are destroyed. Brazilian ranchers have refused to hand over land legally belonging to the tribe unless the state allows them to deforest another large section of land.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/que-pasa/paraguay-brazil-forest-cattle