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PROTECTED FOREST AREA
TRIPLES IN BRAZIL'S AMAZON
Decree Signed by Brazilian President

WASHINGTON, April 29, 1998 -- In an unprecedented step to protect Amazon forests, the Brazilian government announced its commitment with the World Bank and WWF to establish 62 million acres (25 million hectares) of new protected forest areas by the year 2000. This is the largest conservation move ever in the Amazon.

This commitment is the first outcome of a unique alliance between the World Bank and WWF to help conserve a network of forests around the world. The alliance aims to help countries set aside 125 million acres (50 million hectares) of forest in new protected areas, and bring 500 million acres (200 million hectares) of production forests under independent certification, by the year 2005. Today's announcement to permanently protect such a large area of Amazonian forest is a significant step in advancing the goals shared by Brazil, other countries, and the alliance.

"The decision by Brazil's President Cardoso to protect 25 million hectares is truly a remarkable one, both for its size and for its content," said James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank. "This decision will help preserve the abundant biodiversity in this remarkable tropical region. It is a true gift to the Brazilian people and, indeed to the world."

The world's forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. Nearly two-thirds of the earth's original forest cover has already been lost. In the past three months alone, the Brazilian Amazon has lost forest covering an area the size of Belgium to fires. Home to an estimated one-tenth of the world's plant and animal species, the Amazon contains some of the planet's most important tropical habitats.

"President Cardoso's gift to the Earth represents the first tangible, major accomplishment for the World Bank/WWF alliance and shows what can be achieved when two effective, influential organizations combine their expertise with a farsighted government in an effort to save the world's forests," said Claude Martin, Director General of WWF-International. "It is a crucial step forward for WWF's Living Planet Campaign in its goal to protect at least 10 percent of the world's major forest types by the year 2000."

To launch this commitment, President Cardoso today signed decrees for two new protected areas in the Brazilian Amazon, and two in the Atlantic Forest, together totaling almost 1.5 million acres (600,000 hectares).

PRESS CONTACTS:
World Bank: Kristyn Schrader, 202/458-2736 or
Cynthia Case (Radio & TV), 202/473-2243
WWF: Lee Poston, 202/778-9536

World Bank/WWF Alliance Website


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