Lately, the eyes of the world have been diverted from the Amazon forest because of their focus on the corona virus pandemic. The latest report, published by the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE), reveals surprising numbers of increased deforestation there.
Forest fires in the Amazon caught the attention of many people in 2019, but that was not enough to protect it. According to the latest data, 3,066 square kilometers of Amazon forest were destroyed in the first six months of 2020 — an increase of 25% from last year in the same period.
In June 2020, deforestation reached a monthly record of 1,033 square kilometers, 10.7% higher at the same time last year and 24.3% higher than May 2020.
The unpublished INPE report explains that if deforestation continues to increase at the same pace as this, then we are on a "path of destruction" that has not happened since 2005.
With summer just beginning on the Amazon, the risk of forest fires is at its peak. Last year, the record of forest fires in the summer was very worrying. Criticism of the Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro, who was considered to have encouraged illegal logging, mining and land conversion in the Amazon and failed to implement conservation.
There were recorded around 2,248 forest fires that occurred in the Amazon at the end of last month, which exceeded the June 2019 figure. This raises concerns that the coming months will be even worse.
Bolsonaro has repeatedly rejected criticism of his handling of the Amazon emergency. His determination to prioritize the economy over the environment has forced Bolsonaro to finally take steps to protect the rainforest, after international investors began demanding that the Brazilian government start addressing deforestation.
According to Reuters, Bolsonaro has deployed military forces to prevent deforestation. He will also announce a ban on lighting fires around the Amazon forest. However, his efforts so far have not produced positive results.
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