Monagaybay.com has this chart showing Amazon Basin deforestation amounts. Although the rate of deforestation had been declining, this August (orange lines) showed a sharp increase. About 522 km² was cleared, an increase of 522% over last August. Surging soy and corn prices are driving clearances as well as a weakening real making Brazilian grain exports more competitive on international markets. A comprehensive map of the Basin shows about 6% of the tropical forest, 60% of which lies within Brazil's borders, has been cleared between 2000 and 2010. The good news is that conservation and indigenous regions now cover nearly half of the Amazon's land mass. Governments need to match that official statistic with on the ground reality:
