Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Delay in Law to Limit Eucalyptus

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct 21 2006 (IPS) - Far past the 45 days predicted, the delay continues for the parliamentary vote on a bill that aims to stop the expansion of eucalyptus in the Brazilian municipality of Sao Luiz do Paraitinga, 170 km from Sao Paulo. This was the report to Tierramérica from Marcelo Toledo, an official from the judiciary and promoter of the bill. Monoculture of the fast-growing eucalyptus tree for the paper pulp industry already covers “more than 10 percent” of the municipal territory of 73,700 hectares, causing a rural exodus, pollution and destruction of historic monuments, he said.

The bill was presented Aug. 22 with 540 signatures, surpassing the national constitution's required minimum of five percent of the local electorate, but lawmakers have yet to vote on it.

Home to 10,800 people, the mountainous ad forested Paratinga lives from tourism and small farms.