Voice of America
20 Sep 2022, 03:06 GMT+10
Rio de Janeiro - The number of forest fires in the Brazilian Amazon so far this year has surpassed that recorded for all of 2021, according to official figures released Monday that triggered new alarm for the world's biggest rainforest.
Satellite monitoring has detected 75,592 fires from January 1 to September 18 this year, already higher than the 75,090 detected last year, according to the Brazilian space agency, INPE.
The latest grim news from the rainforest will likely add to pressure on President Jair Bolsonaro, who is fighting to win reelection next month and faces international criticism over a surge in destruction in the Amazon on his watch.
Experts blame Bolsonaro for easing environmental protections which had protected the Amazon and allowed loggers and ranchers to illegally clear more land since he took office in 2019.
Bolsonaro's office and the Environment Ministry did not immediately respond to the new report.
Widespread forest fires are an indication that Brazil is not curbing greenhouse gas emissions. Nearly half of the country's carbon pollution comes from land conversion or deforestation. The Amazon rainforest is an important carbon absorber for the planet, but burning timber releases that carbon into the atmosphere.
Since the far-right agribusiness ally took office in January 2019, average annual deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has increased by 75% compared to the previous decade.
Greenpeace Brazil spokesman Andre Freitas called the latest figures a 'tragedy foretold.'
'After four years of a clear and objective anti-environmental policy by the federal government, we are seeing that as this government's term - one of the darkest periods ever for the Brazilian environment - comes to an end, land-grabbers and other illegal actors see it as the perfect opportunity to advance on the forest,' he said in a statement.
Get a daily dose of Long Beach Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Long Beach Star.
More InformationNEW YORK, New York -U.S. stock markets closed with broad gains on Thursday, led by strong performances in U.S. tech stocks, while European...
PARIS, France: L'Oréal is making a fresh play in the booming premium haircare segment with a new acquisition. The French beauty conglomerate...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: In a significant ruling last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for users...
MENLO PARK, California: Robinhood is giving European investors a new way to tap into America's most prominent tech names — without...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks diverged on Wednesday for the second day in a row. The Standard and Poor's 500 hit a new all-time...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: The U.S. dollar continues to lose ground, weighed down by growing concerns over Washington's fiscal outlook...
GENEVA, Switzerland: A new United Nations report alleges that dozens of global corporations are profiting from and helping sustain...
LONDON, UK - Lawmakers in the United Kingdom have voted overwhelmingly to proscribe the direct-action group Palestine Action as a terrorist...
DHARAMSHALA, India: The Dalai Lama is set to address a significant three-day conference of Buddhist leaders this week, coinciding with...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: In a significant ruling last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for users...
ISTANBUL/PARIS/BRUSSELS: As searing temperatures blanket much of Europe, wildfires are erupting and evacuation orders are being issued...
VENICE, Italy: Over the weekend, hundreds of protesters marched through the narrow streets of Venice to voice their opposition to billionaire...