Brazil considers reducing protection for forests

Brazil's lower house passed legislation Tuesday night that would loosen restrictions on how small farmers use their land in the Amazon forest, but lawmakers dropped a Change that most worried environmentalists.

Environmentalists still fear the revision bill would bring increased deforestation. Operaters of small-scale farms and ranches defend the measure as a way to let them produce to full capacity and boost Brazil's food output.

The measure, which had been debated off and on in the House of Deputies for nearly two years, easily passed 410-63, but is expected to face a tougher fight when it goes before the Senate.

The bill would let farmers and ranchers with small holdings work land closer to river banks and to use hilltops.

Source: abcNews.go.com