Here is a paradox for those trying to save the rainforests. Reducing the rate of deforestation often makes the number of forest fires go up. Yes, up.rnThe finding came from a study of satellite images of Amazonia by Luiz Aragao of the University of Exeter, UK, and Yosio Shimabukuro at the National Institute of Space Research in Sao Paulo, Brazil (Science, vol 328, p 1275). Pristine forests and farmed areas are largely fire-free. But fires proliferate in half-destroyed forests, where traditional farmers practice slash-and-burn farming in clearings.
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