Programme to replant deforested Amazon areas

Brazil's government is starting a programme to replant deforested areas of the Amazon with palm trees and harvest their oil for biodiesel.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the project is an example of both preserving the forest and reaping economic benefit from it.

Besides restoring tree cover where it has been razed, officials hope to discourage further deforestation by developing a sustainable alternative to logging and ranching.

Mr Silva did not say how much terrain will be planted. But some 31.8 million hectares were identified as suitable for the palms, which are native to the area.

The programme will focus on Para state, which has the highest levels of deforestation in Brazil.