Rainforest Conference

Writing Assignment

4 Proposals

• Approve development projects only through the Rainforest Advisory Board and with an adequate Environmental Impact Report, approving no projects with lasting negative impacts.

• Create land reserves which incorporate the interests of Native Amazonians, Rubber Tappers and Environmentalist groups

• Outlaw some burning or cutting– Timber– Farming

• Give the new settlers who have obtained land title, land in areas of Eastern Brazil that have been made free by land reform.

Introduction

• Dear Rainforest Advisory Board MembersI recently attended a fascinating conference on resource use in the rainforest. At this conference four proposals were debated and it seemed like there was a lot of disagreement about how land should be used. Some groups favored some proposals and other groups favored different proposals. I believe a have a proposal that will be acceptable to most, if not all, of the interest groups involved.

Proposal

Approve development projects only through the Rainforest Advisory Board and with an adequate Environmental Impact Report, approving no projects with lasting negative impacts.

• Create land reserves which incorporate the interests of Native Amazonians, Rubber Tappers and Environmentalist groups

• Outlaw some burning or cutting– Timber– Farming

• Give the new settlers who have obtained land title, land in areas of Eastern Brazil that have been made free by land reform.

My proposal outlines an increased role for the Advisory Board. Without some sort of regulation, groups will not come to agreement on anything. First, only the Advisory Board can approve any further development projects, and all of these should have an environmental impact study which shows no long-lasting negative effects of the project.

Second, the Advisory Board shall consult with Native Amazonian, Rubber Tapper and Environmental groups to establish “multi-use” parks, also administered by this Advisory Committee. These groups have been found to work well together in managing rainforest resources.

• Third, all cutting and/or burning of the rainforest shall be by permit only, and allowed only on land that has already been used in this way.

• Finally, it is your duty to enact real land reform in the Eastern part of Brazil. Large land-holders shall be fairly compensated for land they own but do not use. This land shall in turn be given to any Amazon settlers who have successfully obtained title to land in the Amazon, with any additional unclaimed land made available to the general public for settlement.

• As you can see, this proposal has benefits for all. Cattle Ranchers can continue to use land they have already successfully used over the past fifty years, recycling their land as they go. Rubber Tappers, Environmentalists, and Native Amazonians have an assurance that development of the land in their parks will occur only with their agreement. Settlers, will gain land that is more profitable than the current land they have settled in the rainforest, namely in the fertile Eastern half of the nation. Lastly, the government will once again gain the trust of the people that it is doing the best to preserve the nation’s resources.