Brazilian Forest Code Vote Delayed Until 2012

The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies has announced it would postpone the new Forest Code vote until March 2012.

Their decision can trigger different effects. First of all, this means that major players from the agribusiness sector could carry on with their activities and further threaten the balance of Brazilian forests.

On the other hand, the delay also suggests that eco-friendly organizations like WWF, Avaaz.org, and Floresta Faz a Diferença and thousands of activists who have sent 50,000 emails, urging President Dilma to reject the changes proposed by the new Forest Code, might be one step closer to achieving their goal.

If the project is implemented, a large series of past environmental crimes would be forgiven at the Brazil government would also give the green light to ample deforestation processes.

So far, almost 1.5 million people think changes applied to the legal framework meant to restore the balance of forests are abusive and irresponsible and plan to continue fighting them.

Despite this, the announced delay might be just a drop in the ocean, since the final decision could be the result of the intense pressures of major players in the agribusiness sector.