A Ransom Worth Paying

In pursuit of profits, Brazilians quickly search for new land to plant soybean fields, and the rainforests of the state of Amazonas could vanish within a generation, according to an article in “The Economist.” Some Brazilians would not mind putting a stop to deforestation, but the only way that will happen is if wealthy nations pay Brazil and other poor countries in the region to save the rainforest. Preserving trees would slow global warming, so adding “avoided deforestation” to a list of activities that rich countries can undertake to meet obligations of the Kyoto treaty might slow the race to clear the forest and develop soybean farms. For now, a payoff seems unlikely, with a lack of trust between supporters and opponents about whether the plan will really save trees of the Amazon. Money seems to be the only incentive to slow deforestation and other activities that contribute to global warming. – YaleGlobal