Amazon deforestation slowing down
Brazil's environment minister has said increased policing brought a sharp drop in Amazon deforestation over the past year, despite a jump in July.
Environment Minister Carlos Minc said destruction in the 12-month period to July totalled 1,689 square miles.
He said that is a 46 per cent decline from the same period a year earlier.
Using satellite data, Brazil's government said 323 square miles of jungle were cleared in July. That is up from 125 square miles the previous year.
Mr Minc said deforestation during all of 2009 - forecast to be around 3,280 square miles - will be the smallest amount in 20 years.