Eight European countries urge Brazil to take action on Amazon deforestation

FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows a deforested plot of the Amazon near Porto Velho, Rondonia State, Brazil, September 17, 2019. REUTERS/Bruno Kelly

BRASILIA (Reuters) - A group of eight European countries are urging Brazil to take "real action" to combat rising deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, which is threatening Europe's desire to source food and other products sustainably.

The group of countries called the Amsterdam Declarations Partnership, currently led by Germany, sent an open letter to Brazil's Vice President Hamilton Mourao late on Tuesday expressing concerns that Brazil is backsliding on its formerly strong record on environmental protection.