Data from satellite photographs of the tropical rain forest in Melonia show that last year the deforestation rate of this environmentally sensitive zone was significantly lower than in previous years. The Melonian government, which spent millions of dollars last year to enforce laws against burning and cutting of the forest, is claiming that the satellite data indicate that its increased efforts to halt the destruction are proving effective. Which one of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the government's claim? ['Much of the money that was designated last year for forest preservation has been spent on research and not on enforcement.', 'The inaccessibility of much of the rain forest has made it impossible to confirm the satellite data by direct observation from the field.', 'Rainfall during the usually dry 6-month annual burning season was abnormally heavy last year.', "Landowner opposition to the government's antideforestation efforts grew more violent last year in response to the increased enforcement."]