With a forest loss of 1,455 square kilometers in the Brazilian Amazon, September just ended a record: since the state climate institute Inpe started measuring with the Deter satellite in 2015, such a high value has not been measured. Forest loss is 47.7 percent higher than in September last year. So far, only September 2019 has been equally devastating, which at 1,454 square kilometers is just below its current value.
In 2018, the forest loss amounted to 746 square kilometers. Environmentalists blame Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who took office in January 2019, for the destruction of the environment. He had halted state controls and suspended fines.
Mass destruction under Jair Bolsonaro
Experts attribute the increase in fires and deforestation in the Amazon in recent weeks to political factors – more precisely: the current election campaign in the country. Given that Bolsonaro could be voted out of office in the October 30 election, farmers would now quickly prepare new areas for livestock and seeding, according to current polls. Ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is currently leading the polls, has already announced that he wants to reduce deforestation to zero.
Video: Large parts of the Amazon may never recover
The Deter satellite, which collects the now-published data, monitors the Amazon around the clock and relays alarms to control authorities. However, the resolution is lower than that of the Prodes system. This photographs the region with high-resolution images. Their evaluation is published once a year and determines the official deforestation rate. This figure is expected to be announced in mid-November.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
