Cattle Giant Steps Up to Problem in the Amazon
BRAZIL - The world's fourth largest beef trader, Marfrig, announced a moratorium last night on buying cattle from farms that deforest the Amazon from now on.
24 June 2009
2 minute read
The move by Marfrig comes in the wake of the release of an investigative Greenpeace report 'Slaughtering the Amazon', which threw international spotlight on Marfrig, Bertin, JBS and other leading cattle companies for driving Amazon deforestation and climate change.
"This initiative is an important step towards halting Amazonian destruction and the related greenhouse gases emissions," said Paulo Adario, Greenpeace Amazon campaign director.
The Governor of the Brazilian Amazon state of Mato Grosso, Blairo Maggi, is supporting Marfrig's implementation of the moratorium by pushing farmers to map their properties. Satellite data of the forest cover will be made publicly available so that companies can identify farms engaged in ongoing deforestation and stop buying cattle products from them.
"In the absence of leadership from President Lula, Marfrig and Governor Maggi have taken their own steps towards ending deforestation and pushing for climate solutions. The President and the rest of the cattle industry must now follow their example," said Adario.
Mato Grosso state has the largest cattle herd in Brazil and has been more affected by deforestation than any other area of the Amazon to date.
Tropical rainforest destruction accounts for approximately 20 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, making Brazil the world's fourth biggest climate polluter. Any effective deal to save the climate must include measures to protect forests.
Greenpeace is calling on President Lula and all other Heads of State to take personal responsibility for solving the climate crisis, including agreeing to attend the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen in December and guaranteeing that a climate saving deal will be reached.
TheCattleSite News Desk
