Brazil: 94% of deforestation in the Amazon is illegal

Almost all of the deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is illegal, and President Jair Bolsonaro's pledge to eradicate this scourge is unrealistic because of the lack of transparency around the permitted use of land in this region, said officials. environmental organizations in a report published Monday, May 17.

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The report, produced by academics and experts from environmental organizations, including the Brazilian branch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), points out that 94% of deforestation in the Amazon and in the “Matopiba” region, encompassing parts of the states of Maranhao, Tocantins, Piauí y Bahía, is illegal.

A situation caused by the inability of the authorities to document, for example, the legal use of the same land by farmers, ranchers or loggers, the report points out.

"The differentiation between legal and illegal deforestation is a key factor to ensure that agricultural and forestry production is not poisoned by environmental crimes"

, underlines the text.

International pressure

Since the start of the Bolsonaro presidency in 2019, a peak in deforestation has been reached: during the twelve months leading up to August 2020, deforestation in the Amazon increased by 9.5%, destroying an area greater than that of Jamaica, according to official data.

The far-right president is under strong international pressure to restore his government's image on environmental issues.

The food industry in this country, which is one of the largest exporters of soybeans and meat, is worried about the consequences of this pressure.

Read also: Since 2010, the Amazon rainforest has emitted more carbon than it absorbs, according to a study

Despite Jair Bolsonaro's promise to eliminate illegal deforestation by 2030, deemed unrealistic by the report's writers, a bill easing environmental requirements for agricultural and energy projects has been approved by the Chamber of Deputies of the Brazil. This text, which has yet to be approved by the Senate, provides in particular that a simple written promise to comply with environmental standards will be sufficient to start work to duplicate roads or power lines.