Deforestation in Brazil’s portion of the Amazon rainforest hit a new record high in February, new data has shown, as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s administration works to end years of widespread devastation. In a presentation last week, a scientist with the space research agency, Inpe, blamed the large month-to-month fluctuations on cloud cover that hid deforestation on satellite images in January, only for it to be revealed in February. She said the level of deforestation was unusual that early in the year, when heavy rains make it difficult for loggers to work in the forest