Peaks of Amazon deforestation in Brazil, according to photographs of the space agency in the country

By Paulo Prada

Rio DE JANEIRO, 10 Sept (Reuters) – published on Tuesday by the space agency of Brazil preliminary data indicate the deforestation of the Amazon heel by more than one third last year, reversing a steady decline in the destruction of the world's largest rain forest.

If backed by tracking data typically compiled by the end of the year, the increase would confirm fears by scientists and environmental activists who warn that the agriculture, mining and Amazon infrastructure projects, coupled with changes in environmental policies long of Brazil, are investing progress against deforestation.

Last year, the deforestation of the Amazon was shown to be at an all-time low.

The likely increase of deforestation has led to concerns that Brazil may lower its guard and provides an opening for the loggers, ranchers and others eager to develop parts of a forest that is seven times the size of France.

The space agency of Brazil, whose destruction of the rainforest track using monthly satellite imagery, detected almost 2.766 square kilometers (1,067 square miles) of the forest from August 2012 until July of 2013. The total area, more than twice the size of the city of Los Angeles, is 35 percent greater than the cleared area in the previous year, the Agency said.

The measurement year ends in July, when the visibility is better, because the clouds meet often in the region of much of the rest of the year, making it difficult to pick up the satellite images.

A more complete count for the period is compiled, using data from additional satellites and field research provided by researchers in the Government. Additional data will help determine if clear are the result of deliberate destruction or natural degradation caused by drought, fire, or other factors.

Data collected by Imazon, a private Research Institute, also point to an increase in deforestation in recent years. The group, the other source of regular data Amazon considered reliable by many scientists, recently said destruction over the past year have almost doubled. (Edition of Stacey Joyce)

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