Amazon deforestation rises for the first time in 15 months August 8, 2024

Burned trees are seen after illegal fires were lit by farmers in Manaquiri, Amazonas state, Brazil, in September 2023 (MICHAEL DANTAS)

By AFP - Agence France Presse

Amazon deforestation rises for the first time in 15 months

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest increased in July for the first time in 15 months, according to official figures released on Wednesday.

An area of 666 square kilometers (250 square miles) was destroyed in the Amazon last month, 33% more than the 500 square kilometers lost in July 2023.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva promised to end illegal deforestation in the Amazon by 2030. The practice had worsened dramatically during the government of his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.

According to the government, among the factors contributing to the increase in July was a strike by civil servants from the environmental agency IBAMA.

In addition, "in July last year, the drop (in deforestation) was very high," said João Paulo Capobianco, executive secretary of the Ministry of the Environment, during a press conference to explain the poor results for July this year.

In the last 12 months, deforestation fell by 45.7% compared to the previous period.

"In the last year, the reduction has been extremely significant," said Capobianco.

While deforestation destroyed 7,952 square kilometers between August 2022 and July 2023, it only destroyed 4,315 square kilometers in the same period in 2023-2024.

Deforestation is strongly linked to agricultural expansion and illegal mining.

The Amazon, the world's largest rainforest, covers almost 40% of South America. In the last century, it has lost around 20% of its area to deforestation, due to the advance of agriculture and cattle ranching, logging and mining, and urban sprawl.

Tropical forests absorb carbon and are a vital ally in the fight against climate change, but they are also the most devastated by deforestation.

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