How much has the rate of deforestation risen since last year? [originaltext]

(6)Brazil reports a sharp rise in the deforestation of the Amazon and the rate of deforestation in the Amazon has risen sharply after years of decline. Farming, mining and building projects have all contributed to the rise of almost 30% over the past year. The government has called the destruction a crime and says it’s working to reverse the trend. Between July 2011 and August 2012, deforestation in the Amazon was at its lowest level since record began. Just over two and a half thousand square miles or almost six thousand square kilometers of forest was destroyed in the last year, the vast majority to make way for cattle ranching with substantial areas also taken over by soybean production. The worst year on record was 2004 when 27 thousand square kilometers of forest was destroyed.