The Brazilian government has released findings that show over 60 per cent of deforested areas of the Brazilian Amazon forest are used to graze cattle. 5 per cent of land is used for arable agriculture, according to the government’s study.

Using satellite imagery, Brazilian officials found that, of the 719 000 square kilometres cleared up to 2008, 62 per cent of the land was left pasture used to graze cattle, at an area of one cow per hectare. The Brazilian government has been quick to condemn the wastefulness revealed by the study. Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira told the national press "Having less than one head of cattle per hectare is unacceptable. It's a waste, because the forest is being replaced by something that does not generate income or growth." image expired