Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell significantly in the first seven months of this year, down 42% from the same period last year.
The information was presented in Brasilia by Environment Minister Marina Silva, based on data collected by the Prodes system, a government project that monitors the Amazon in real time using satellite imagery.
During the aforementioned period, from January to July, nine thousand square kilometers were deforested throughout the Amazon. The destruction is chilling, but it matches the smallest area destroyed since 2019, former President Jair Bolsonaro’s first year in office, during which, and with his encouragement, the Amazon was hit by an unprecedented invasion by farmers, ranchers, fishermen and miners. illegal activity resulting in wild and reckless devastation of the forest.
For this reason, when the Prodes data analyzed covered the traditional 12 months of monitoring, from August one year to July the next, the reduction in deforestation was much smaller, only half, of what was recorded in the first seven months of the year. this year.
According to Marina Silva, from August 2022 to July 2023, the reduction in deforestation in the Amazon was only 22.3%, since in the last months of the government of Jair Bolsonaro the actions of forest invaders were destructive precisely because they believed that by changing governments, they It will be more difficult to commit your crimes.
However, according to data provided by the minister and environmental activist, the reduction in deforestation of the world’s largest tropical forest represents the conservation of 2,593 square kilometers of green area compared to the previous period.
The state of Amazonas, which is usually one of the champions of environmental destruction, was a positive surprise during this period, as it saw the largest reduction in deforestation – 64%, thanks in large part to the intensive and constant actions of inspectors from Ibama. , Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Environment, whose activities were extremely limited by the former government, but to which Marina Silva gave new powers and funds, and they complied.
Author: Domingos Grilo Serrinha This correspondent in Brazil
Source: CM Jornal
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