Destruction of Amazon 'slowing'

The government of Brazil says that the destruction of the Amazon rainforest has fallen by 50% this year.

It says it believes this is the result of new protection policies.

Environmental groups warn it is too soon to be sure there has been a long-term reversal in the demolition of the world's largest rainforest.

Marina da Silva, environment minister, said some 9,000 sq km (3,475 sq miles) of forest was felled in the last year, which is half the amount in 2003-4.

Environmental groups are welcoming the reduction but say the announcement must be treated with caution.

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They say the figures are still estimates from satellite images which can be quite inaccurate because of cloud cover.

Farmers also may not be clearing new land because of a fall in the price of the main product - soy.

Amazon rainforest One square kilometre of the rainforest contains up to 90,000 tons of living plants It produces 20% of the earth's oxygen An estimated 2.5 million insect species live there New species are constantly being discovered there

The Amazon is still the largest rainforest in the world and is home to 30% of all animal and plant life on the planet.

Environmentalists are worried that by making the Amazon smaller, the rainforest will actually become a polluter of greenhouse gasses.

That's because it will be less able to absorb the harmful gases that are created as more trees are chopped up and burned.