SMOKESTACKS IN THE RAIN-FOREST - INDUSTRIAL-DEVELOPMENT AND DEFORESTATION IN THE AMAZON BASIN

In the eastern Brazilian Amazon abundant natural resources, strategic infrastructure, and generous government incentives are spurring a rush to establish charcoal-consuming industries. Annual fuelwood demand for these industries is projected to exceed 14 million tons; fuelwood is supplied primarily by native tropical forests. Because the prospects for sustained management are unlikely, I calculate that over 1,500 km2 of forest land could be destroyed for fuelwood production each year, thus exacerbating regional deforestation and undermining the resources base on which industries depend. This study shows that in humid tropical regions, large-scale industrialization can be a powerful catalyst for environmental degradation. © 1990.