Slaughterhouses ordered to pay for deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon

A Brazilian judge has ordered two beef slaughterhouses and three ranchers to pay $764,000 for contributing to deforestation in a protected Amazon rainforest area.

Fabiano Maisonnave reports for The Associated Press.

In short:

• Two slaughterhouses, Distriboi and Frigon, were found guilty of buying cattle from illegally deforested land in Rondonia’s Jaci-Parana reserve.
• The $764,000 penalty includes $453,000 for reforesting 232 hectares of land that was converted to pasture.
• This case is one of several lawsuits seeking damages from companies involved in the illegal cattle trade in the Amazon.

Key quote:

“When a slaughterhouse, whether by negligence or intent, buys and resells products from invaded and illegally deforested reserves, it is clear that it is directly benefiting from these illegal activities.”

— Judge Inês Moreira da Costa

Why this matters:

The Amazon is vital for global climate regulation, and deforestation driven by cattle farming threatens its survival. Legal action against companies involved in illegal deforestation is crucial for protecting this essential ecosystem.