Deforestation In The Brazilian Amazon Forest Highest In 15 Years

INPE (The National Institute of Space Research) released data showing that deforestation in 2021 in the Brazilian Amazon hit the highest point in 15 years. The preliminary data for January shows the destruction is continuing to mount.

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Brazil recorded the most deforestation ever in the month of January according to government data.

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Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon totalled 430 square kilometers (166 square miles) from January 2022, which is five times higher than January 2021, according to preliminary satellite data from government space research agency INPE.

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Throughout Brazil, deforested areas with less than 25 ha represent 82.8% of the total alerts, but only 22.8% of the deforested area.

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Alerts with more than 100 ha represent 4.4% of alerts, but 51.7% of the total deforested in the country.

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In 2021, 3,040 deforestation were found with more than 1 km2 (100 hectares), 107 of which exceed 10 km2 or 1,000 hectares. For comparison, Central Park in New York is 3.41 km2 and Ibirapuera Park in Sao Paulo is 1.6 km2.

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Environmental researchers said they were not surprised to see destruction still rising and pointed to right- wing president Jair Bolsonaro’s weakening of environmental protections since he took office in 2019.

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Scientists warn that the world’s largest rainforest is approaching a critical point past which there could be severe, irreversible consequences for the planet.

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The most common pressures causing deforestation and severe forest degradation are agriculture, unsustainable forest management, mining, infrastructure projects and increased fire incidence and intensity.

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