Following recent shocking news that Amazon deforestation had accelerated, the Brazilian government is showing a new political willingness to arrest illegal loggers. This show of resolve deserves to be applauded. When 80% of Amazonian logging is estimated to be illegal, and the act of clearing thousands of hectares of rainforests illegally is a bit hard to hide, one would expect that given political will -- illegal logging could be greatly reduced.

Dozens held over Amazon destruction

Brazil mounted its biggest swoop against environmental criminals this week as 85 people, including 48 officials, were arrested and accused of allowing the illegal extraction of enough Amazon timber to fill 66,000 giant logging trucks.