REDD FOX GUARDING THE HENHOUSE?

Brazil has been patting itself on the back recently for reportedly dramatic reductions in its deforestation rate.  In efforts to further reduce illicit logging, the national government is now planning to auction off large swaths of Amazon forest to logging companies.  In reviving concessions – increasing from the current 150,000 hectares to nearly 11 million over the next 4 to 5 years – the hope is to improve forest management and reduce illegal practices (e.g. slash-and-burn).  Read more about these next steps as reported by Reuters here and about some of the concerns over this privatization of national forests in Mongabay here.