Bolsonaro neglects the Amazon | Germany reprimands …

"They can use this money as they see fit, and Brazil does not need it." The President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, spoke about the decision made by Germany to suspend some payments to preserve the Amazon, due to increasing deforestation affecting the jungle region. This collaboration reaches 35 million euros.

Bolsonaro told local media in Brasilia that his country "does not need" help from Germany to protect the Amazon. Brazil is home to more than 60% of the Amazon rainforest, which is being cut at a growing and alarming rate, to generate more farmland.

Ecologists and non-governmental organizations have attributed the sharp increase in deforestation in recent months to the coming to power of Bolsonaro, which defends a lower control of environmental standards and has also been accused of favoring big business entrepreneurs. wood sector. , mining and agriculture.

In Sunday's statements, the president also said that some foreign countries were seeking to "take control" of the nation. "Do you think big countries are interested in the image of Brazil or do you really want to take ownership of our country?", He told reporters. The head of state has repeatedly criticized the alleged interference of other countries in the environmental problems in Brazil and defended, in his own way, sovereignty over the Amazon: "C & S Is ours, "he repeats often.

The Amazon is vital for the exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (essential for curbing global warming), but the concerns raised by this jungle have increased since the arrival of Bolsonaro in the presidency in January. Deforestation in this vast jungle territory reached just over 2,000 square kilometers in July, up 278% from the same period last year, according to the latest figures from the National Institute of Space Research (INPE). ).

A week before the publication of the INPE report, its director, Ricardo Galvão, was sacked. The Minister of the Environment, Ricardo Salles, criticized the institute for publishing these figures, which contained "sensationalist interpretations" and aimed to obtain "more donations from foreign NGOs".

"Great concern" of the German government

Bolsonaro's statements come after Germany announced Saturday its intention to block the payment of 35 million euros (40 million dollars) in Brazil, intended for the conservation of the jungle and biodiversity programs until the rate of decline in slaughter levels reached encouraging levels.

"The Brazilian government's policy in the Amazon raises doubts about the continuation of a sustained reduction in the rate of deforestation," he told the German newspaper on Saturday Tagesspiegel Minister of the Environment, Svenja Schulze. Between 2008 and this year, Berlin has allocated 95 million euros (just over $ 100 million) to several environmental protection programs in Brazil.

The decision of the German government reflects its "great concern over the increase in deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon". In a statement collected by the Brazilian media, the German Embbady in Brazil confirmed the information and said that "the suspension only concerns resources for new projects funded by the Federal Ministry of the Environment".

Germany, despite the decision taken, will continue to contribute to the Amazon fund. Created in 2008, this fund aims to improve the management of protected areas, as well as the control and control of the environment, the promotion of sustainable economic activities and the recovery of degraded areas. To date, according to official data, 103 projects focused on preservation and, above all, the fight against deforestation have been financed with these resources.

Donations for the Amazon fund are directly related to the goal of reducing deforestation: the lower the slaughter rates, the higher the donations. In addition to Germany, Norway is the other country collaborating with the fund. It is responsible for 94% of the project's economic investments.

The two countries have repeatedly expressed their thanks to the government of Lula da Silva, responsible for launching the project. However, today these same nations are threatening to end their participation if President Bolsonaro does not maintain the tripartite steering committee of the federal government, state governments and civil society, recently eliminated by the controversial minister of state. Environment, Ricardo Salles.

"Having a diversified and balanced representation of authorities and civil society in the committee also contributes to increased transparency of information and accountability in decision-making," said the countries. through a letter to the Minister. Last year, Norway threatened to withdraw and said contributions to Brazil would be cut in half and could even be eliminated if management changes were not contemplated.