Brazil: The administration of Brazilian President Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has announced its plan to eliminate deforestation by 2030 as part of an international pledge to protect the environment.

Mr. Lula and his Environment Minister Ms. Marina Silva unveiled the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation in the Amazon, touting it as the latest step in their aggressive platform to combat climate change.

“Brazil has resumed its leading role in tackling climate change after four years in which the environment was treated as an obstacle to the immediate profit of a privileged minority. But rich countries also need to do their part. They were the ones who, over the centuries, devastated forests the most,” Mr. Lula posted on Twitter, alluding to the policies of his predecessor, Mr. Jair Bolsonaro.

Fifteen government ministries collaborated on the plan, which includes advancing techniques for documenting and tracking illegal deforestation.

The plan further includes increased use of satellite imagery to identify illegal logging, ranching, and mining operations. Government databases containing financial intelligence, for example, will also be deployed to track the flow of money from unsanctioned operations in the Amazon rainforest.

Under the terms of the plan, a system will also be developed to certify the origins of wood and agricultural products that might otherwise come from vulnerable or exploited ecosystems.

In addition to its crime-fighting efforts, the plan proposes to standardise land titles and create incentives for sustainable agriculture and other “green” activities.

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