The Amazon is the world’s largest tropical rainforest, but if deforestation is allowed to continue at the rate it’s going now, there won’t be any of it left. The worst of it is happening in Brazil. Deforestation in Brazil’s portion of the Amazon rainforest soared to more than 88% in June compared with the same month a year ago. It was the second consecutive month of rising forest destruction under new President Jair Bolsonaro who has called for development of the region. The area of destruction totaled 920 square km (355 square miles), according to data from Brazil’s space research agency.
Over the course of almost a year, the Amazon in Brazil has lost an area larger than the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Deforestation has already reached 4,565 square km (1,762 square miles) in the first 11 months, which is a 15% increase over the same period in the previous year. It’s not surprising as environmentalists have warned that Bolsonaro’s strong remarks calling for the development of the Amazon and criticizing the country’s environmental enforcement agency Ibama for handing out too many fines would embolden loggers and ranchers seeking to profit from deforestation.
Paulo Barreto, a researcher at Brazilian nongovernment organization Imazon, said: “Bolsonaro has aggravated the situation. … He has made a strong rhetorical attack.”
Under the terms of the free trade deal between the European Union and South American bloc Mercosur agreed to protect the environment. This new data coincides with this deal and should put more pressure on the government to protect the environment. Bolsonaro’s office declined to comment, saying questions would be addressed by the Environment Ministry. However, the agriculture minister did say that Brazil will take action if concerns about an increase in deforestation are confirmed.
Environment Minister Ricardo Salles told Reuters:
We are adopting all measures to combat illegal deforestation. This week we had 17 enforcement teams simultaneously in all of the Amazon from Ibama.
Brazil is home to 60% of the Amazon, which is seen as vital to the global fight against climate change since it provides so many trees to capture CO2. Many companies and nations will not want to deal with Brazil if they do not protect their portion of the Amazon from deforestation. Unfortunately, Greenpeace forest strategist Paulo Adario said “all indications” are that deforestation will worsen under Bolsonaro.
Adario said:
When they have the final numbers, if it is really a lot, this will be a nightmare for Bolsonaro. This is something that is really important from an international and Brazilian point of view because the Amazon is an icon.
