Country in 2000 in 2000 Land Area in 1999-2000 Change during.
( 000ha) ( 000ha) in 2000 ( 000ha) 1999-2000 (%).
Brazil 845,651 543,905 64.3 -2,309 -0.4.
Thailand 51,089 14,762 28.9 -112 -0.7.
Negative numbers in the "Annual rate of change- column indicates deforestation.
Background of the Amazon:.
The Amazon is an immense area, most of which was covered by forest at one time, and most of which remains forested today. Bordering a number of countries in the northwest corner of Brazil, it contains five million of Brazil's total area of 8.5 million square kilometers; the latter area is larger than the continental.
United States. Rivers permeate the region, including the Amazon River, which traverses the region from west to east.
Since at least the 1960's, occupation and use of the Amazon has been a policy goal. The military government in power from the 1960's to the 1980's promoted occupation of the region. Many felt that such empty land was an ideal release valve'' for pressures arising from a growing population. Many also felt or hoped that the region offered boundless resources, and those in power apparently shared those visions of progress and/or were happy to make use of such hopes.
To open the region, roads were built, accompanied by colonization and titling projects. Subsidized credit was offered, and income taxes were forgiven if the funds went to approve development projects. Dams were constructed, and a free trade zone was created in Manaus.
The actions taken appear to have stimulated occupation of the Amazon. The road network expanded significantly over the decade 1975-1985.In addition, total population more than doubled between 1970 and 1991, and urban population more than tripled. Finally, cleared forest area increased significantly.
What Drives Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon?.
The depletion of rainforests has demanded the attention of policy makers in the 1980's and 90's. Initial concern about extinction of species has been joined by alarms about possible future global warming caused by atmospheric accumulation of greenhouse gases'' such as the carbon dioxide released by deforestation.
