Brazil top court upholds laws linked to collapse of Amazon deforestation pact

Research has found the voluntary initiative was effective in reducing deforestation of the Amazon, the world's biggest rainforest. Scientists have warned that deforestation could hasten global warming.

In the Supreme Court case, Brazilian farmers challenged the moratorium, saying it imposed unfair restrictions on them. Brazilian law allows many land owners to clear 20% of their property while the moratorium barred any deforestation after 2008.

Brazil's soy crushers group Abiove welcomed the ruling in a statement on Wednesday, saying it eliminated legal uncertainty. The group's head, Andre Nassar, said members were unlikely to rejoin the moratorium.

Cristiane Mazzetti of environmental group Greenpeace said the court's decision was "a setback that could, in the medium term, reverse the positive trend of reduced deforestation in the Amazon."