Special Report

The science of early childhood development is as persuasive as the science of global climate change. Today, both challenges urgently call for a transformative politics.

Ultimately, until the standing forest is worth more than what it’s cleared for, large-scale conservation is probably a losing fight. This is potentially where the international carbon market comes in. The Bush administration has done a good job of convincing Americans that the Kyoto Protocol has failed (even though its effects cannot be measured yet). […]

A new generation of forest-friendly political leaders has emerged in parts of the Amazon.

From indigenous people to carbon traders, concerned groups have stepped up the fight to save the Amazon.

An Amazonian dilemma: Brazil has become a global producer, and China a global consumer.

The global economy discovers the most obscure corner of the rainforest.

Warming breeds drought, drought breeds fires, fires release carbon, carbon breeds warming.

Once economically marginal, cattle ranching in the Amazon now yields big bucks.

Concerted governmental policies to protect the forest have been few and far between.

Expanding the network of protected areas and better environmental-law enforcement can help to curb deforestation.