The deforestation of the Amazon is constantly increasing reaching levels never before seen, as had already been said here. Now, according to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE), the number of forest fires in Brazil increased by 82% from January to August 2019 compared to the same period last year. During that time, 71,497 wildfires were recorded, all as a result of human activity—whether accidental or intentional—Alberto Setzer, inPE researcher. “This whole region of central Brazil, the south of the Amazon, is in a very prolonged drought, has places with almost three months without a drop of water.”
#PrayforAmazonia is now a trend on Twitter (in Brazil) as fires have devastated areas of the Amazon region and many users began to express the lack of concern of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who had repeatedly dismissed the seriousness of the matter. According to NASA, the Amazon rainforest has been relatively fire-resistant due to its wet conditions, but an increase in the frequency and intensity of droughts (climate change-related phenomenon) in combination with human activities in the forest has led to an increase in the number of fires. Since coming to power, Bolsonaro has been weakening government agencies responsible for protecting the rainforest, as well as regulations covering indigenous lands and nature reserves. And the twitter users who joined this claim say that “this is Brazilian environmental policy under President Bolsonaro.” In this note:
Bolsonaro
Wildfires
Amazon
Climate change
