Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rises in March
Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest grew by 14% in March compared to the prior year, according to preliminary official figures released on Friday, underscoring the continued challenges the new leftist government is facing.
On January 1, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva assumed office and pledged to end deforestation, following years of rapid deforestation under Jair Bolsonaro, who slashed efforts to protect the Amazon.
Marcio Astrini, the head of the local environmental group Climate Observatory, stated, “This rise in numbers reveals that the Amazon still suffers from a huge lack of governance and that the new government needs to act urgently to rebuild its capacity for repression of environmental crime, which had been totally destroyed by the previous government.”
Space research office Inpe’s information showed 356 square km (137 square miles) were cleared in Brazil’s Amazon simply last month.
Based on the most recent statistics, the destruction from January to March reached 845 square kilometers (326 square miles), decreasing 11% from the previous year. These figures paint a mixed picture regarding the government’s anti-deforestation efforts thus far.
Brazil formally gauges yearly deforestation from August to July, to restrict the impact of overcast cover clouding annihilation satellite pictures during the blustery months. In the first eight months of that timespan, from August 2022 to March 2023, deforestation is increasing 39% from year to year
“The final deforestation numbers must be finalized within four months. Therefore, it’s unlikely that the rate of deforestation in the Amazon will fall in 2023. In fact, it is more likely to grow, “Astrini asserts.
U.S. John Kerry, a climate envoy, said that in Brazil at the end of February that the world cannot achieve its climate target of keeping the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius without saving the Amazon rainforest.
Washington reported toward the start of the year it expected to add to Brazil’s Amazon Asset, which upholds preservation projects in the wilderness locale.
Last month, Norway also said it would help Brazil get more countries to donate to the Amazon Fund.
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