Amazon deforestation is accelerating again in Brazil – archyworldys

Nothing seems to stop the deforestation of the Brazilian part of the Amazon. According to an official estimate published Thursday, November 18, it increased by almost 22% between August 2020 and July 2021.

Logging in the world’s largest rainforest spanned 13,235 km² during the period 2020-2021, the highest value since 2005-2006 (14,286 km²), according to data from the Prodes deforestation monitoring system, from the National Institute of Space Research (INPE) of Brazil.

This is the third year in a row that deforestation has increased since the rise to power of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who has come under international criticism for weakening surveillance of Amazon ecosystems and defending extractive activities in protected areas.

More soldiers on the ground

These figures represent ” a challenge “, admitted the Brazilian Minister of the Environment, Joaquim Leite, during a press conference in Brasilia, shortly after the publication of the document. And to add: “We will have to be firmer in the face of environmental crimes. “

However, he claimed that these data “Do not reflect[étai]is not exactly the reality of the last few months ”. The Brazilian government says it has stepped up its efforts to fight illegal deforestation through an increased military presence in the most affected areas.

“To those who persist in committing these environmental crimes, [nous avertissons] that the Brazilian state will show its full strength in the Amazon ”Justice and Public Safety Minister Anderson Torres said.

Data concealment before COP26

“This result is the fruit of a persistent, planned and continuous effort to destroy environmental protection policies” carried out under the Bolsonaro government, said in a statement Marcio Astrini, executive secretary of the Climate Observatory (OC), which brings together the main environmental NGOs and institutes active in Brazil, including WWF and Greenpeace.

The OC also accused the government of having concealed the data until the end of COP26, since the document, published Thursday by the INPE, linked to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation , is dated October 27, 2021.

“The government already had the deforestation data in hand at the time of the climate conference in Scotland and deliberately omitted it”, said the NGO. To which the Minister of the Environment replied: “The information I have is [que le document] was disclosed today. “

The equivalent of the area of ​​Lebanon deforested every year

When he came to power in 2019, thanks in part to the support of the powerful agribusiness lobby, President Bolsonaro said he wanted to open up protected lands and indigenous reserves to agriculture and mining.

The result is an annual average of deforestation which now exceeds 10,000 km² – the equivalent of the surface of Lebanon – against some 6,500 km² during the previous decade.

During the COP26 on the climate, Brazil has pledged to advance two years, from 2030 to 2028, the deadline to eliminate illegal deforestation in its territory, which is home to 60% of the Amazon. “We will certainly be firmer to reverse the figures [de la déforestation] and achieve the goal that was announced at the conference ”, concluded Mr. Leite during the press conference.