The company has developed a succesful program to reforest the devastated areas that have already been exploited for minerals. Many birds and animals are returning to the replanted forest, although experts note a loss of about five per cent of the original species. Environmentalists said it's none too soon.
Scientists believe the annual destruction is actually twice that.
In its annual report Tuesday, the environmental group Greenpeace warned the Amazon rainforest will be wiped out in 80 years, if multinational logging companies continued deforestation at current rates. Working on a devastated part of the forest, a crane, belonging to the Rio do Norte mining company takes bauxite-rich soil out of the ground near the town of Trombetas, Brazil, May 11, 1999. The mining company has developed a succesful program to reforest parts of the forest that have already been exploited. About 20 per cent of the Amazon is already gone and many scientists believe the destruction is accelerating global warming. Still, not everyone is willing to follow Rio do Norte's example.