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Brazilian Senate passes controversial new forest code
Dec 7, 2011, 1:00 GMT
Brasilia - The Brazilian Senate passed late Tuesday a new forest code which, according to environmental organizations, paves the way for increased deforestation in the Amazon.
The bill passed in a 59-7 vote. An earlier, different version of it was passed in May by the lower house of the Brazilian Congress, which will now need to approve the latest version.
As legislators debated, environmental activists called for Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to veto the law. The bill is expected on Rousseff's desk by the end of the month.
The new forests law would provide broad amnesty for deforestation by farmers and ease requirements for riverine and rainforest conservation.
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