Rainforest in Brazil: deforestation in the Amazon almost doubles within a year

The destruction of the rainforest in the Brazilian Amazon region is growing rapidly: In the past nine months, deforestation has risen by 93 percent compared to the same period of the previous year, according to the Brazilian Institute for Space Research (Inpe). Accordingly, this year, for the first time, the threshold of an annual reduction of the forest area by a total of 10,000 square kilometers could be achieved.

According to the Inpe were

• deforested more than 7800 square kilometers from January to September 2019,
• In the same period of the previous year it was more than 4000 square kilometers .

Also in the number of fires in the rainforest after the evaluation of satellite images has increased, said Inpe. According to the Institute, there were 66,750 fires between January and September in the Amazon, nearly as many as in 2018.

Experts blame the policy of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro for increasing forest fires and reducing forest cover. The Bolsonaro, which has been in office since the beginning of the year, is closely associated with the agricultural lobby and has relaxed environmental regulations. Brazilian farmers were allowed to burn down not more than five, but 20 hectares of land in order to make room for agriculture and livestock. The authorities, which are to prevent illegal clearing, were weakened under Bolsonaro.

The Amazon forests play a central role in stabilizing the global climate. Due to the numerous fires in the region, Bolsonaro has come under pressure internationally in recent months. On August 23, he finally signed a decree for an army deployment against the Amazon fires.