From: Click Green
The world’s largest leather exporter has vowed to reject beef from cattle reared in farms involved in Amazon deforestation.Bertin, Brazil’s second largest meat exporter, has backed environmental group Greenpeace’s campaign to stop deforestation to make way for cattle farms. This followed major beef trader Marfrig announcing its intention to support the campaign.
“Given the sheer size of Bertin’s operations, this commitment will have a significant impact on driving down Amazon deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. Greenpeace will closely monitor the moratorium’s implementation to ensure its success,” said Paulo Adario, Greenpeace Amazon coordinator.
The move comes after Greenpeace published a report, Slaughtering the Amazon, tracing the cattle reared in recently cleared land through the supply chain to a number of global companies.
Bertin will now register and map all farms in the Amazon area to ensure it is not backing the devastation of the Amazon rainforest. Rearing and nursery farms, as well as processing facilities, will be followed by a traceability system by 2011.
Fernando Bertin, CEO of Bertin, SA, said: “Environmental responsibility is increasingly relevant for a company like ours to maintain and enhance its position in Brazil and abroad. Today, we are making a fundamental step.”
However, Greenpeace criticised the world's biggest global exporter of processed beef, which has not pledged its support to the campaign. The company has rented several new facilities in areas where cattle ranching and deforestation are rife.
“JBS-Friboi must accept its responsibilities and stop fuelling Amazon destruction. It needs to join these companies in protecting the rainforest now,” said Adario.
Cattle ranching is one of the major causes of Amazon deforestation. Huge areas of the Amazon are felled to make way for the farms. The Amazon rainforest is pivotal in the fight against climate change, storing millions of tonnes of carbon.
Greenpeace campaigner Judy Rodrigues added: “With just 115 days to the Copenhagen Climate Summit it is vital that President Lula supports the industry initiatives and demonstrates that Brazil has measures in place to end Amazon destruction.
"In return, developed countries not only need to commit to deep cuts in their own emissions, but must also create a fund of at least US$40 billion a year to support tropical countries’ efforts to halt the destruction of precious rainforests in order to avert catastrophic climate change.”