Brazil's endangered species list triples in size
Deforestation and illegal animal trade have done enormous damage to Brazil's wildlife
By PlentyMag.comMon, Apr 27 2009 at 4:30 PM EST
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Deforestation and illegal animal trade have done enormous damage to the species of Brazil over the last 20 years. The country's list of endangered animals now stands at 627 species -- 288% higher than the 218 species that were on the same list in 1989.
It's not clear if this is the first major revision to Brazil's endangered list since '89, but it's a significant update: 489 species were added to the list, while 79 were considered recovered enough to be dropped from the list.
Environment Minister Carlos Minc said "Industry is expanding, agriculture is expanding, people are occupying protected areas and our conservation units do not have the protection needed," but "We'll fight to remove the largest number of species possible from that list."
Minc reported that 90% of Brazil's Atlantic rainforest, where most of these newly endangered species reside, has been chopped down. More than 232,000 square miles of Brazilian forest have been destroyed since 1970.
Minc took over as Environment Minister earlier this year, after his predecessor, Marina Silva, resigned, citing government "stagnation" in the fight against deforestation.
Story by John Platt. This article originally appeared in Plenty in November 2008.
Copyright Environ Press 2008
Comments
emay217@gmail.com
04/03/2012 22:13 PM
wat list of endangered species are their in brazil people!
boo
10/12/2011 20:46 PM
i think its ugly but thats what makes it cute
sam houston
05/10/2011 14:58 PM
i love sloths!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Moab
11/22/2010 15:05 PM
In my opinion, much could be made if Brazilian Government were more enthusiastic about environmental and Brazilian endagered species conservation. what do we see? Nobody is concerned about that. People is not educated. Industry has no guideline on how to make sustainable development. We need action for now not for the future when is too late.
Anonymous
10/26/2010 18:40 PM
ahhhhhhhhhh
Bob the builder
04/12/2010 13:15 PM
MONKEY!!! HARRY POTTER!!!
