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.

apnews.com

Slaughterhouses ordered to pay for deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon

Trump gutted climate rules in 2025. He could make it permanent in 2026.

Here's the global playbook being used to crack down on climate protest

Greenpeace’s fight with pipeline giant exposes a legal loophole

Food becoming more calorific but less nutritious due to rising carbon dioxide

Can Santa Claus survive in a melting world?

How to protect New York’s subway in an era of extreme rainfall

Canada announces new methane emission standards for oil and gas sector

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.