June, 23 2009, 04:24pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Paulo Adario, Amazon Campaign director (currently in Amsterdam)
+31 6 2494 1099
Lindsey Allen, Greenpeace Forest Campaigner +1 415 710 5601
Caroline Donatti, Greenpeace Brazil Communications +55 92 4009 8005 or +55 92 8114-4497
Cattle Industry Giant Marfrig takes Lead in Ending Amazon Destruction
Following Greenpeace exposé company announces moratorium
SAO PAULO, Brazil
The world's fourth largest beef trader, Marfrig, announced a moratorium last night that will prevent the company from buying cattle raised in newly deforested areas within the Amazon(1). The move by Marfrig comes in the wake of the release of an investigative Greenpeace report, Slaughtering the Amazon(2), which thrust an international spotlight on Marfrig, Bertin, JBS and other leading cattle companies for driving Amazon deforestation and climate change.
"This initiative is an important step towards halting Amazonian destruction and the related greenhouse gases emissions," said Paulo Adario, Greenpeace Amazon campaign director.
The Governor of the Brazilian Amazon state of Mato Grosso, Blairo Maggi, is supporting Marfrig's implementation of the moratorium by pushing farmers to map their properties. Satellite data of the forest cover will be made publicly available so that companies can identify farms engaged in ongoing deforestation and stop buying cattle products from them.
"In the absence of leadership from President Lula, Marfrig and Governor Maggi have taken their own steps towards ending deforestation and pushing for climate solutions. The President and the rest of the cattle industry must now follow their example," said Adario.
Mato Grosso state has the largest cattle herd in Brazil and has been more affected by deforestation than any other area of the Amazon to date.
Tropical rainforest destruction accounts for approximately 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making Brazil the world's fourth biggest climate polluter. Any effective deal to save the climate must include measures to protect forests.
Greenpeace is calling on President Lula and all other Heads of State to take personal responsibility for solving the climate crisis, including agreeing to attend the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen in December and guaranteeing that a climate saving deal will be reached.
Greenpeace is a global, independent campaigning organization that uses peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future.
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