Question Leadership Review: You are a man of many interests and talents. How and when did you become particularly interested in preserving the environment?

Answer, Malcolm Forest: When studying in the States, at UCLA. In the early seventies, smog was already a major problem in LA. In fact it started to be a visible environmental problem much earlier than that, even before Worl War II. But in the late sixties, the city of São Paulo, today one of the most densely populated in the World, underwent a vigorous economic boom that brought about an almost immediate smog problem. Something like what is happening in some of the major industrial centers in Mainland China today...Travelling to and from São Paulo to LA, back in those days, I noticed the huge environmental problem we were faced with in both cities, Los Angeles and São Paulo. I then began to have an interest, first in in recycling and then in forest conservation.

Question: What do you see as some of the major environmental challenges Brazil faces today?

Answer: The challenges are somewhat the same in most countries. It involves, awareness of the problem, leadership for rigorous and immediate action. Education and legislation enforcement are key to the solution, as subitems. Brazil has still a low level of awareness regarding the environment issue. Although environment protection laws are quite good and and comprehensive, there are loop holes in other laws and even tax incentives for land clearance for agricultural projects. The big problems are: lack of enforcement and poor education. Brazil lacks a sound ecological and sustainable development curriculum from basic education upwards. Of course, the other side of the coin is the need for a paradigm change. Societies need to promote a cultural shift. Move from a defensive attitude towards the environment, only, to that, plus a proactive approach for environmental restoration.

Question: Can you tell us a little about the "internationalization" of the Amazon Region?

Answer: From a geopolitical standpoint, it seems that Brazil may be facing a serious problem in the comming years. Devastion in the Amazon Basin continues, despite all media commotion. Brazilian governments have failed in the preservation of the major, and last great rain forest in the World. Poverty plagues the region. It is lawless, to a great extent. The Brazilian Armed Forces have suffered severe budget cuts in the last two decades. As a consequence, surveyllance and enforcement are not what they should be in the region and around national borders. The area is huge and inospitable and this imposes another hardship. The new Brazilian Constitution of 1986 has given autonomy to the Brazilian Indian Reservations. Local State Gorvernment has no legal jurisdiction over them, and neither does the Federal Government. President Lula has created many additional Indian Reservations in the Amazon Region in his first term in office. On the one hand, this should help preserve nature and local native cultures and populations. But on the other, the consequence could be a "major independent state" being formed in the region. Foreign NGOs and missionaries are basically the only ones there. And of course the Amazon is incredibly rich in its biodiversity and natural resources. Both neighboring countries and major World powers have vested interests in the Amazon. It is the most important natural fresh water reserve in the Globe. All this could add up to geopolitical instability in the region.

Question: When did you found your NGO, AMAR, and what can you tell us about its mission?

Answer: AMAR was founded almost ten years ago. It started informally with a small group interested in th the preservation of the Cantareira Forest in the greater São Paulo area. This group had as leaders Vera Lucia Braga and Mauro Victor. A popular movement began. It evolved to a petion to the local and UNESCO authorities with over 150,000 signatures, requesting that the São Paulo Green Belt become a Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO and that the building of a major and devastating perimetral highway cutting through the Cantareira Forest, the largest urban forest in the World, be stopped. This movement was successful in its work. AMAR became a formal NGO, a member of UNESCO´s Planet Society. It´s mission today is much broader and includes preserving Biosphere Reserves in general, communities in and around them, promoting paradigm changes, education and resforestation through the Brazilian Forests Project. Other past actions included the transformation of a decadent and overcrowded State prison in São Paulo called Caradiru into a green area with a rain forest park; many building codes and zonning laws changes to protect green areas in São Paulo and local educational and historic heritage preservation activities, to name a few.

Question: What kind of leadership will be required to protect Brazil's environmental heritage? Particularly, how can a new paradigm for Brazilian Forests be realized?

Answer: Leadership is key, especially servant and transformation leadership. It should act on the root causes: education and enforcement. Besides, leadership is urgently needed in promoting paradigm changes. The World is badly ill. The immediate remedy will come through leadership in reforestation, and restoration of a "natural habitat" for mankind, now. The Brazilian Forests Project (http://www.malcolmforest.com/malcolmforest/forests.htm) aims at promoting all this. Promoting Global cooling, generating jobs, life quality and wealth.

Question: What does the world need to know about the environmental progress in Brazil?

Answer: There are good laws. some can be copied by foreign states. The São Paulo Green Belt Biosphere Reserve poses an interesting model for major metropolitan areas. In fact it has been studied by New York City environmental authorities for local application in the New York metropolitan area. There are always lessons to b learned every time there is a problem. I should say that it is high time people, governments, corporations and NGOs of the World get together and work under servant leaders for remedy and transformation. This is the only way for survival of the Planet and improvement of life quality. AMAR is open for contributions, members and collaborations. Visit our website: www.amarsp.org.br