SUGAR CANE PLANTATION WILL INVADE CERRADO AND AMAZON BIOMES: AS AUTHORIZED BY THE SENATE OF BRAZIL

Let's start by explaining briefly, about these two most important biomes of Brazil.

Cerrado.  Located between the Amazon, Atlantic Forest and Pantanal biomes, it is also known as a savannah-lile vegetation (the first photo below). Located in Brazil’s central high plains region (the second photo below), the Cerrado covers approximately 23% of Brazil’s surface area (2 millions square km).
The basins of the rivers Tocantins, São Francisco, and Paraná-Paraguay are fed by the Cerrado.
The Cerrado biodiversity, after the ones of the Atlantic Forest and Amazon, is the richest of the Brazilian biomes. It is home of 10 thousands species of plants, of which 45% are exclusive to this biome; more than 930 species of birds, and 300 species of mammals. It is estimated that Cerrado is home to a third of the animal species in Brazil and over 5% of all the species in the world

This biome is one of the most threatened and over-exploited regions in Brazil, second only to the Atlantic Forest in vegetation loss and deforestation, having now few areas of its original area (the third photo below). Unsustainable agricultural activities, particularly soybean and cattle ranching,  continue to pose a major threat to the Cerrado's biodiversity.

Amazon. This biome certainly does not need too much explaining because it is very well known in the whole world, due mainly to its critical role on the Earth climate (carbon dioxide fixation, water cycling, oxygenation, biodiversity...).

The total area of the Amazonian region, located on north of South America (the first photo), is estimated to be 7 millions square km, of which 5.5 millions square km (= 2.1 millions sq. mi.) are covered by rainforests, crossed by dozens of rivers (the second photo below shows a navigable canal in the river Negro). Among the nine nations with Amazonian forests, Brazil contains 60% of this biome.

The Amazon biodiversity richness makes of Brazil (and the other countries with this rainforest) a highly productive biome able to receive a rational sustainable development plan, with emphasis on tourism (see the other photos below). Estimates of animal species: more than 1300  fishes, more than 1000 birds, more than 300 mammals, nearly 240 reptiles, more than 160 amphibians; among arthropods: more than 1800 butterflies, nearly 3000 bees, circa 3000 ants... besides hundreds species of beetles and other insects...

Mahogany - Swietenia macrophylla,
has disappeared from the states
of Pará, Mato Grosso and
Rondônia

'Açaí'  (açaí palm)- Euterpe oleracea, energetic food, rich in fibres,
 minerals, and antocianin

'Tambaqui' (black pacu, giant pacu...), Colossoma macropomum, highly appreciated  in fish markets

Victoria amazonica (formerly, Victoria regia)

Sugar cane in the Cerrado and Amazon - and the Senate of Brazil. The chairman of the Environmental Committee of the Senate of Brazil is Mr Blairo Maggi. He is 'nothing more, nothing less' than one of the greatest soybean growers and agribusiness leader in the world!!! So, he certainly contributed for the approval, by his colleagues in the Senate, for the authorization that will allow the sprawling of sugar cane culivation in 'altered areas of the Cerrado and the Amazon', according to the modifications in the Brazilian Forest Code approved in 2012. The question is: 'which are precisely such areas'?

Let's listen to scientists who have been carrying out research on our environments. One of these researchers is Dr Gerd Sparovek, who was consulted by President Dilma Roussef during discussions on the new Brazilian Forest Code. 'The biggest obstacles to food production in Brazil are the enormous inequality in land distribution, agricultural credit constraint to the farmer who produces food for direct consumption, the lack of technical assistance that will help you encrease your productivity, lack of investment in infrastructure for storage and transportation of agricultural production, the financing restrictions and prioritization of development and technology that will enable a significant increase in the capacity of our pastures'

In conclusion. The statement of Dr.Gerd Sparovek refers to food production, to keep human beings alive! And food production is much more critical than sugar cane production... for moving cars!!!