Strong growth of deforestation in Amazonia …

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon doubled between January and August of this year, totaling 6,404.4 km², against 3,336.7 km² for the same period of 2018 (91.9% more), according to official data published by the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), while the international controversy persists on the preservation of the largest tropical forest of the planet. Deforestation has remained at the level of recent years, but has increased sharply over the last four months, encouraged by a significant increase in fires.

In August alone, 1,700.8 km² were deforested, less than in July (quadrupling), but more than triple that of August 2018 (526.5 km²), according to the report. INPE satellite warning system. According to ecologists, the escalation is mainly explained by the irresponsibility of loggers, ranchers and miners, encouraged by the policy of President Jair Bolsonaro regarding the opening of indigenous reserves and the 39, protected areas.

The exponential increase in deforested territory has skyrocketed with the increase in burns, which recorded 97,972 fire sources across Brazil from January to Saturday, September 7, a 53% increase over the same period in 2018.

According to experts, there should be more outbreaks in the Amazon in September, because "the peak of deforestation takes place in July and that of fires in September," said Ane Alencar, director of science at the Institute. environmental research in the Amazon (IPAM). Indeed, fires are used to reduce fallen trees once they are dry. The cycle lasts until the end of the dry season, which reaches November in some areas.