Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in June signed a law aimed at formalizing land ownership in the Amazon to end land-claim chaos there that has helped make the rainforest region virtually ungovernable. But the measure’s approval has outraged environmentalists and members of Lula’s own party. They claim the law gives a green light to land grabbers and further deforestation of the Amazon, nearly one-fifth of which already has been cleared. And this month, Brazil’s acting Attorney General asked the Supreme Court to declare the legislation unconstitutional. Based on a provisional measure issued in February, the law sets forth how individuals can obtain title to Amazon land they occupy and work but do not formally own. The goal is to address uncertain... [Log in to read more]