On Thursday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva revealed that he will be creating another 3 protected reserves in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest. 23 million hectares of the forest are currently protected by the government - a further 2.6 million will be included in the expansion proposals.

Lula stressed that the move is not an overnight fix - the solution to the problem of mass deforestation is one that will take 2 or 3 years to concrete: "Sometimes a thing that seems so consensual can take two or three years to materialize because we have to respect institutions." He added that foreigners have no right to morally judge and tell the Brazilian government how to manage the world's largest rainforest.

With the resignation of Marine Silva - a passionate defender of the Amazon rainforest - many assumed that President Lula Da Silva would back farming projects and other industrial interests with the intention of clearing forest vegetation.

Despite this scepticism, WWF's head in Brazil, Denise Hames stressed that Lula's plans represent a positive step for the conservation of the world's most famous rainforest. But it has also received a fair amount of criticism and scepticism. Mario Monezes of Friends of the Earth International said the Brazilian government lack a tried-and-tested plan or systematic approach toward protecting the forest. He added that even if they did have a solid approach, it is simply not enough to save the rainforest: "Is it important? Yes. Is it sufficient? No."

Illegal deforestation and logging will remain a problem for the government. Last year's spike in deforestation rates led to the deployment of soldiers in order to enforce the strict laws imposed by the government. It is said that higher world food prices will prompt farmers to clear new land and produce more. The vastness of the Amazon rainforest makes it an extremely difficult place to police. Despite this, the government are determined to take control of the situation - President Lula says: "It is important that when someone comes into our house they ask permission to open our fridge."

Environmentalists are still sceptical of the Brazilian government due to their recent plans to push hydroelectric power despite its consequences for thousands of indigenous tribe members. The government say that conservation and development can coexist peacefully, but many scientists argue that huge amounts of methane produced by flooded vegetation make hydroelectric dams as detrimental to the environment as fossil fuel burning power plants.

Roberto Mangabeira Unger, minister for strategic affairs says: "We now have a remarkable opportunity. This is the very first time in Brazilian history that the Amazon lies at the centre of national attention."

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