Brazil’s Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest saw a rapid increase of 29.5% in just the last12 months’ time. As per statistics and reports given by country agency it remained the highest since the year 2008.
The situation is quite sad because the rainforest already lost 9,762 sq km (3,769 sq miles) of the total vegetation. This deforestation took place between the time frame August 2018 to July 2019. This data was shared by Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (Inpe). The preliminary report, which was shared, stands as clear evidence to prove that the deforestation of Amazon is experiencing an unfortunate rise.
Jair Bolsonaro, the Far-right President, expressed doubt about the accuracy in the data, which was shared by Inpe. Scientists stated that Amazon faced this massive loss at an increasing rate from the time Mr. Bolsonaro took charge of the office in Januar. Scientists also added that the president is in favor of development in place of conservation.
Mr. Bolsonaro in early July dismissed one such similar Inpe report pointing it as flawed one – didn’t comment on the current data.
Being the largest rainforest on the earth, Amazon stands as a major carbon store, which is slowing down the speed of global warming. In the last few decades, it was seen that the previous governments of Brazil managed to reduce deforestation by taking required action by the federal agencies along with a system of fines.
On the other hand, Mr. Bolsonaro and his ministers strongly criticized the levied penalties. They also oversaw the dramatic fall in the confiscations of the timber and the convictions for environmental crimes.
The administration team of Bolsonaro spent so much energy on attacking the data on deforestation. To establish their approach and thought-process as correct, in August, Bolsonaro fired space research institute head, Ricardo Galvão, along with his agency. It came right after he accused Bolsonaro of the manipulation they made in the deforestation data for defaming the government in front of the nation and also globally.
Risks for this forest turned to be a serious global concern in August 2019, when fires sparked through the forests of Amazon, attracting severe criticism from Emmanuel Macron, the President of France.
During a briefing on the discussions of numbers, the Environment Minister Ricardo Salles said that the rise in deforestation reflected the requirement for the new strategy for handling illegal mining, logging, and land grabbing, which he blames all as the core cause behind the increase in the speed of deforestation.
The annual data which was published last Monday by the space research agency clarified the fact that the institute’s previous reports on deforestation experienced a rise.
The latest data which was shared emerged out as 42% more than what was reported previously. So, what’s the cause?
In Brazil, Beef prices reached record highs, thereby encouraging the land grabbing for conducting cattle ranching and undoubtedly is one of the biggest causes of attracting deforestation in this region. MarcioAstrini, who is Greenpeace’s public policy coordinator, stated, “The Bolsonaro government is responsible for every inch of forest destroyed. This government today is the worst enemy of the Amazon,”
