(Brasilia) Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has increased by almost 22% in one year, reaching 13,000 km2.2, An unmatched record in 15 years, casts doubt on the Zaire Bolsonaro government’s declared will to reverse the trend with more “firm” measures.
Between August 2020 and July 2021, deforestation covered 13,235 km of the world’s largest rainforest.2, The largest area since 2005-2006 (14,286 km2)2The report was released on Thursday, according to data from deforestation monitoring system PRODES from the National Institute of Space Research (INPE) in Brazil.
This is the third year in a row that deforestation has increased since right-wing President Zaire Bolsonaro came to power, who has come under international criticism for weakening surveillance of the Amazon biome (ecosystem) and promoting extraction activities in protected areas.
The figures “challenge us and we need to be tougher on environmental crime,” Brazilian Environment Minister Joaquim Light told a news conference in Brasilia shortly after the document was released.
However, he said the data “do not accurately reflect the reality of recent months”.
However, according to data released by INPE last week, deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is 877 km.2 In October, this month’s record for the fifth year in a row.
The Brazilian government says it has stepped up its efforts to combat illegal deforestation by increasing the presence of troops for three months in the most affected areas.
Illegal mining and livestock farming are particularly responsible for deforestation.
“For those who commit these environmental crimes, (we warn) the Brazilian state will show its full strength on Amazon,” said Anderson Torres, Minister of Justice and Public Safety.
After coming to power in 2019, thanks to his support for the powerful agribusiness lobby, President Bolsonaro said he would like to open protected lands and domestic reserves for agriculture and mining.
For three years, deforestation averaged about 10,000 km per year in the Brazilian Amazon.2 – Lebanon area – about 6,500 km2 In the previous decade.
Objectives of COP26
The result is the result of a sustained, planned and sustained effort to destroy environmental protection policies under the Bolsonaro government, Climate Observatory Executive Secretary Marcio Austri said in a statement. Brazil, including the WWF and Greenpeace.
The Observatory alleges that the government hid the data until after COP26, as the document published on Thursday by INPE, which is linked to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, is dated October 27, 2021.
“The government already had deforestation data during the Scotland Climate Conference and deliberately ignored it,” the NGO said.
“The information I have is that it was leaked today,” the environment minister replied.
At COP26 in Glasgow, Brazil pledged to move forward two years from 2030 to 2028, setting a deadline to eliminate illegal deforestation on 60% of its territory inhabiting the Amazon.
“We will definitely work hard to repel the numbers (deforestation) and achieve the goal announced at the conference,” Mr Light concluded.
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