INPE: Brazil's largest Amazon deforestation in 15 years year. Deforestation in the Brazilian part of the reserve was the largest in the past 15 years, BBC News reports, citing a report by the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE).
The Amazonian ecosystem is considered the most diverse in the world – there are about three million species of plants and animals. In addition, the area is home to the indigenous peoples of Brazil. According to researchers, from 2020 to 2021, the rate of forest decline increased by 22 percent, and their area decreased by 13.2 thousand square kilometers – the most since 2006.
Brazilian Environment Minister Joaquim Leite was alarmed by the data and said more decisive action was needed to curb this type of crime. However, the official noted that the data does not fully reflect the situation that has developed in the past few months.
Greenpeace noted that forests began to decline the fastest with the coming to power in 2019 of President Jair Bolsonaro. The Brazilian leader encourages agriculture and the meat industry, which are damaging to the ecosystem.
Farmers set fires to clear land for growing soybeans for cattle feed, which is bought by many food companies around the world. However, fires often get out of control, spread to neighboring territories and endanger unique plants, animals and indigenous peoples.
However, Bolsonaro himself considers the accusations against him unfair. The Brazilian president claims that 90 percent of the forest remains intact. However, at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26), the country joined the multi-billion dollar commitment to end deforestation. The funds will go to fight fires, support indigenous peoples and restore damaged areas in developing countries.
In mid-October, the Brazilian president was sued at the International Criminal Court for deforestation, which Australian environmentalists considered a crime against humanity. The document states that the Bolsonaro administration is responsible for the annual loss of 4,000 square kilometers of massifs.