Sad record.
The Brazilian Amazon experienced its worst August since 2010, with an 18% increase in the number of forest fires compared to the same month last year, according to official figures released Thursday.
Satellites from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) detected 33,116 fires in the Amazon last month, compared to 28,060 in August 2021. There were 45,018 in August 2010.
VIDEO.
Amazon rainforest suffers worst fires in August since 2010
August is usually the most critical month for forest fires, in the heart of the dry season.
No less than 3,358 households were identified for the single day of August 22, unheard of for a daily count since September 2007.
Three times more fires than August 10, 2019, "fire day"
This is a figure three times higher than August 10, 2019, known as "fire day", when Brazilian farmers launched a vast burning operation in the northeast.
The smoke had spread to Sao Paulo, 2,500 km south of the country (the equivalent of the distance Chicago-Los Angeles), prompting strong international condemnation.
Amazonas is burning.
Brazil space agency reports 84% increase since last year.
Smoke even hitting Sao Paulo.
Massive impact of bad policies!
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pic.twitter.com/at21C25dwa
— Erik Solheim (@ErikSolheim) August 22, 2019
Over the first eight months of the year, the INPE detected a total of 46,022 outbreaks of fire, an increase of 16% compared to the period January-August 2021.
Read alsoBrazil: risk of extreme heat in 2100 due to deforestation
The worst results correspond to the mandate of Jair Bolsonaro
Since 2010, the four worst figures for this month of the year correspond to the four years of mandate of the far-right president Jair Bolsonaro (30,900 in 2019, 29,307 in 2020, 28,060 in 2021 and 33,116 in 2022), who is seeking a new term in October.
“This unbridled increase in the number of fires over the past four years is closely linked to the increase in deforestation”
Mariana Napolitano, from the Brazilian branch of WWF
“This unbridled increase in the number of fires over the past four years is closely linked to the increase in deforestation, explains Mariana Napolitano, from the Brazilian branch of WWF.
The Amazon rainforest is tropical and humid.
Fire is not part of its natural cycle.
Fires do not happen spontaneously, they are always linked to human actions.
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According to experts, these fires are notably caused by farmers who illegally clear the land by burning trees.
Deforestation is also at its highest in Brazil, with 3,988 km² deforested in the first half.
A record since these data began to be compiled by INPE's Deter satellite monitoring system in 2016.