Inter-American Dialogue's Latin American Advisor
Q&A: Roughly half of the deforestation that was avoided in Brazil's Amazon region from 2005-2009 was the result of governmental policies, according to a report released March 21 by the Climate Policy Initiative. Meanwhile, billions of investment dollars are on hold as Brazil considers a proposal governing land purchases, nearly two years after the country banned foreign investors from buying large tracts of land, the Financial Times reported. Meanwhile, the alarming rate of loss of Paraguay's Chaco Forest has also recently made headlines. What role should the state play in regulating land usage? How can Latin American governments balance preservation of unique environmental systems with economic growth? James N. Levitt, fellow in the Department of Planning and Urban Form at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy in Cambridge, Mass.: "For most of the past decade, Latin American economic growth has maintained a healthy pace. Foreign direct investment from nations such as China that are seeking reliable supplies of minerals and other natural resources has been particularly strong. And growing populations in the region continue to strive for improved incomes and living conditions. All of this economic activity is putting severe and sustained pressure on Latin America's unique land base.
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