The Brazilian model replied to criticism from
Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina Dias by arguing that
despite the existence of preserved areas, deforestation in the
Amazon rainforest is on the rise.
The letter, seen by Reuters on Thursday, challenged Dias to show
progress toward sustainability, saying, "I will be very happy to
announce positive actions that are taken in this direction."
Dias had criticized Bundchen on a radio program on Monday for
"saying bad things about Brazil without knowledge of the facts,"
and calling the country a deforester. Dias said the model should
instead be highlighting achievements in preservation.
Bundchen, who is married to American football star Tom Brady,
responded on Twitter on Wednesday but did not name Dias or the
Agriculture Ministry. She had been involved in environmental
causes since 2006 and was always looking for more knowledge
through "reading and contact with scientists, researchers,
farmers, cooperative and environmental organizations," she
tweeted.
In her letter, Bundchen countered Dias' argument that Brazil has
preserved two-thirds of its native vegetation, citing government
data showing Amazon deforestation is on the rise. Amazon
deforestation shot up 13.7 percent in the 12 months through July
2018, to the highest point in a decade.
Dias had said people propagating a false image of Brazil abroad
were "bad Brazilians," but Bundchen said the illegal deforesters
are the real bad Brazilians.
Activists are concerned that Bolsonaro, the country's new
right-wing president who took office this month, will favor
business and farm interests over existing environmental
protections.
Bolsonaro has suggested Brazil could exit the Paris Agreement on
climate change and one of his first moves as president was to
transfer powers from the Environment Ministry to the Agriculture
Ministry and other agencies.
The Amazon, the world's largest tropical rainforest, absorbs
vast amounts of greenhouse gas and its preservation is seen as
vital to the fight against climate change.
"I see the preservation of nature not only as a legal
environmental duty, but also a way to ensure water, biodiversity
and climate conditions essential for agricultural production,"
Bundchen wrote.
(Reporting by Jake Spring; Editing by Frances Kerry)
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