The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA), the nation's environmental agency, announced a "zero deforestation policy" last Wednesday in response to growing deforestation. Satellite images recently released by Brazil's space research institute suggest that deforestation from March to April 2011 increased sixfold over the same period last year. Last December, a study indicated that deforestation in Brazil was at its lowest level in 22 years. However, the recently released data shows a 27 percent spike. Some environmentalists have said that the spike was caused by an increase in demand for soy and cattle, a theory supported by the fact that much of the deforestation has been in the soya-rich Mato Grosso state. However, Marcio Astrini of Greenpeace suggested that there's a link between the increased deforestation levels and the months of debate over existing forest protection laws. "You have 300-400 lawmakers here in Brasilia sending the message that profiting from deforestation will be amnestied, that crime pays," said Astrini. "The only relevant factor is the Forest Code. It is a gigantic rise." IBAMA will be deploying additional agents to the Amazon. There are currently 520 agents in the region, with 60 more due to arrive. For the full story on the rise in deforestation, see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13449792. For Brazil's response, seehttp://www.boston.com/news/world/latinamerica/articles/2011/05/20/brazil_steps_up_fight_against_deforestation/and http://news.mongabay.com/2011/0517-ibama_brazil_moukaddem.html.