December 21, 2011 #Brazilian Forest Code Revisions Threaten Amazon Rainforest, National Advancement & Ecological Sustainability

December 21, 2011 - Brazilian Forest Code Revisions Threaten Amazon Rainforest, National Advancement, and Ecological Sustainability

clipped from petition website: PLEASE SIGN!!! FOR YOUR GRANDCHILDREN!
President Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil

Dear President Dilma Rousseff,

I am emailing you to ask that you take immediate action to save Brazil's precious Amazon rainforests from clearance for industrial agriculture by vetoing changes to Brazil’s Forest Code (Código Florestal). I support the vast majority of Brazilians that want Amazon rainforest deforestation and ecological decline to end. We share their concerns that your great country's constitution is being broken, that the proposed forest code is not based upon the latest agro-ecological science, and that there has not been adequate consultation with civil society. Together we ask that you immediately veto the bill.

The Brazilian rainforest is of immense importance for your great nation's advancement and ecological sustainability - as well as for local, national, and global biodiversity, ecosystems and climate. Such natural wealth brings tremendous responsibilities. The new forest law, by sanctioning large-scale deforestation, undermines the very ecological systems that sustain agricultural industries. Brazilian agriculture is heavily dependent upon ecosystem services generated by the vast Amazon rainforest. Amazon rainforest protection must focus upon keeping old forests standing for local and national advancement, and local, national, and global ecology.

Brazil's top scientists have found it is possible to increase agricultural production many-fold while maintaining natural ecosystems and recovering degraded forests. Mixed agro-ecological landscapes contain more clean water, less silt in streams, more wild pollinators, and natural predators of agricultural pests. A properly written, scientifically based new forest code would move away from industrial agriculture to more ecologically sustainable agro-ecological farming methods, while protecting large areas of ecologically intact and connected primary forests. The forest code may need to be updated, but not under pressure from - and being written by - the agriculture lobby, while ignoring your rising nation's capable scientists.

President Dilma, it is up to you to fulfill your campaign pledge to veto the forest code. Further, you must keep Brazil's international promises to reduce deforestation by at least 80% by 2020, and maintain Brazil as a forerunner in tackling climate change by halting deforestation and the ecological diminishment caused by first-time industrial primary forest logging. In the past ten years Brazil has shown the world how it’s possible to reduce deforestation, protect biodiversity, sustain ecologically intact rainforest ecosystems, and maintain primary rainforests to address climate change - all while advancing you peoples' welfare. This Brazilian success story must not be undone on the eve of Brazil hosting the world at the Earth Summit (Rio+20) in 2012. For your great nation's people, ecological sustainability, and continued advancement - please veto the forest code immediately and start over. The world is watching.

With grave concern,