Fires in the Amazon: the keys to understanding what happened and what the effects will be

RIO DE JANEIRO.- The
fires they exploded at an unusual rate
Brazil this year, which triggered a global alarm on the
deforestation in the
Amazon, often called the "green lung" of the Earth. Here is an overview of what is happening:

What's happening in Amazonia?

The National Institute of Space Research (INPE), the federal agency for monitoring deforestation and fires in Brazil, reported that this year
increasing number of forest fires:
76,720 epidemics throughout the country until Thursday, which is equivalent to
85% increase compared to the same period last year. Just over half are responding to areas of the Amazon rainforest and epidemics have increased in recent days.

The agency does not have data on the area consumed by the fire, but there are indicators
deforestation has accelerated significantly this year. INPE reported that between 1 January and 1 August, 9250 square kilometers had been deforested (almost three times the size of the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, CABA and GBA), exceeding the total area deforested in 2018, which had been 7537 square kilometers.

Environmentalists say that the increase in fire sources is normal during the dry season in the Amazon, between July and November; However, they cautioned about the scale of outbreaks this year. Although the majority of the biome is on Brazilian soil, the fire also extends to territories in other countries, such as Bolivia. The advance of the fire
He has alerted leaders and organizations around the world who are calling on the Brazilian government to take action on this issue.

Why is it called the "green lung" of the planet?

The Amazon is the largest tropical forest in the world and, according to experts, it plays a vital role in regulating the temperature and humidity of the planet. It is a great biodiversity store because it hosts 20% of the world's plant species.
The Amazon rainforest releases oxygen and stores carbon dioxide, a gas that retains heat and is one of the main causes of global warming.

"With every hectare burned, we risk losing a plant or an animal species that we do not even know," said André Guimaraes, director of the Amazon Institute of Environmental Research (IPAM).

The deforestation of the Amazon changes the landscape and the rainfall regime of the region, with incalculable consequences. It also increases the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.

What are the causes of fire?

Environmental experts suggest that there is a direct relationship between
the increase of deforestation in Brazil and the largest number of fire sources in the Amazon.

An IPAM study revealed that 10 municipalities in the most deforested region are concentrating the largest number of fires. Some farmers use fire to renew the soil, but also to open natural resource exploitation areas. Analysts estimate that 80% of fires are burned for illegal purposes.

"It is very difficult to have natural fires in the Amazon.They occur mainly from the hand of man," said Paulo Moutinho, member of IPAM. "And we're really lucky, if we had droughts similar to the last four years, it would be even worse."

Brazilian prosecutor's office investigates whether less stringent environmental control and withdrawal of government support from president to environmental organizations
Jair Bolsonaro They favored the spread of fires.

Is there an irreversible "tipping point"?

The climate specialist, Carlos Nobre, of the University of São Paulo, and Thomas Lovejoy, environmental scientist of George Mason University, felt that the "turning point" for the Amazon system is
between 20% and 25% of total deforestation. Without enough trees to generate the rains required by the forest, the most pronounced and extensive dry season could turn more than half of the rainforest into a tropical savanna, they wrote in the newspaper. 39, last year.
Progress of science.

If the rain cycle collapses, dry winters in parts of Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina
they could devastate agriculture, According to the experts.

And Lovejoy said Friday that about 20% of the Amazon has already been deforested, so it's already
turning.

What was the reaction of the Bolsonaro government?

Bolsonaro alluded to, without any evidence, that
non-governmental organizations they could be behind fires in retaliation for having stopped receiving public funds during their management. These statements sparked rejection from civil organizations and world leaders who urged Bolsonaro to fight the fire.

Since he took power, Mr Bolsonaro said that protecting the environment could not hinder economic development or agriculture. It has therefore reduced its efforts to combat the illegal exploitation of forests, livestock and mines. In the first half of this year, the area of ​​the Amazon corresponding to Brazil lost 3000 km2 (39% more than the same period last year).

Now, the president has asked the people to help the government to denounce acts of vandalism and said Friday that
will send the armed forces to help mitigate the fires. Bolsonaro admitted the growth of deforestation during his government and baderted the lack of financial resources to fight it.

What political impact did the fires have?

French President
Emmanuel Macron He estimated that Bolsonaro "lied" about his commitments to the environment and announced Friday that under these conditions, France
opposes the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement. On the initiative of Macron and with the support of the German Chancellor,
Angela Merkel, The Bolsonaro commitment will be tested at the meeting of
G7 which starts today in Biarritz.

What was the policy before Bolsonaro?

Until Bolsonaro took power, Brazil had tried to present itself as a leader in the protection of the Amazon and global warming. Between 2014 and 2012, the country created new conservation areas, strengthened surveillance and removed government funding from rural producers who destroyed protected areas. This has led to deforestation at the lowest level since the start of the registration. But since the start of the recession in 2014, the country has become more dependent on the agricultural products it produces – livestock and soybeans – which are the drivers of deforestation.

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