BRAZIL

Source: BBC Monitor

Brazil is South America's most influential country, an economic giant and one of the world's biggest democracies. It is one of the rising economic powers - otherwise known as BRICS nations - together with Russia, India, China and South Africa. Over the past few years it has made major strides in its efforts to raise millions out of poverty. 

The discovery of major offshore oil reserves could propel the country into the top league of oil-exporting nations.The exploitation of the Amazon rainforest, much of which is in Brazil, has been a major international worry, since the wilderness is a vital regulator of the climate. It is also an important reservoir of plant and animal life. 

A drive to move settlers to the Amazon region during military rule in the 1970s caused considerable damage to vast areas of rainforest. A jaguar, resting in an Amazon reserve, is one of several species threatened by human encroachment. Deforestation by loggers and cattle ranchers remains controversial, but government-sponsored migration programmes have been halted. 

In 2005 the government reported that one fifth of the Amazon forests had been cleared by deforestation.Deforestation has been slowed down by extra policing and pressure from environmental and consumer groups. The government has fined illegal cattle ranchers and loggers, while the food industries have banned products from illegally deforested areas, such as soya beans and beef.