São Paulo, Aug 6, 2021 — Official data published today by the Brazilian Space Research Institute (INPE), detected deforestation alerts across an area of the Amazon rainforest nearly the size of Yellowstone National Park in the last 12 months.
8,712km2 (871,200 hectares) of the Amazon saw deforestation alerts between August 1, 2020 and July 30, 2021 according to the Brazil government’s own DETER-B alert system — the second largest annual amount the system has recorded since its implementation in 2015.
New images including footage of fires and deforestation captured by Greenpeace Brazil can be downloaded here: https://media.greenpeace.org/collection/27MDHUWNMU1G
The news comes as 18 governors from Brazil held a meeting with US Climate Envoy John Kerry to discuss climate aid for the Amazon [1], and days after the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies voted to approve a new land grabbing bill that would further legitimize illegal deforestation. The new bill could put at least 19.6 million hectares of public non-designated land in the Amazon at risk according to the Brazilian NGO Imazon. [2]
Cristiane Mazzetti, Senior Forest Campaigner, Greenpeace Brazil said:
“Few expected this government to fulfill its disingenuous promise to reduce deforestation by 10%. Officials continue to weaken environmental agencies and, for the third year in a row, are using the military to investigate environmental crimes, a strategy proven to be ineffective,” continued Mazzetti, “If the Brazilian Senate approves the land grabbing bill, however, they will accelerate the collapse of the Amazon and destroy parts of the rainforest that are key to preventing the worst scenarios of the climate and biodiversity emergencies.”
Land grabbing on public lands is linked to one-third of all Amazon deforestation in Brazil. The main driver of deforestation is clearance by land speculators and meat producers for cattle ranches. Despite recent promises by Bolsonaro to address illegal deforestation as he hopes to negotiate new trade deals with the EU, USA, UK, and Canada, he and his allies are advancing a whole suite of radical bills that would allow for more deforestation and undermine Indigenous Peoples’ land rights.
Experts predict these proposals could “break” the Amazon because the rainforest can only sustain so much forest loss before it fails as an ecosystem.
Diana Ruiz, Senior Forest Campaigner, Greenpeace USA said:
“Indigenous Peoples of Brazil are under systematic attack. Now the Brazilian government is working to reward land thieves that would further exploit the Amazon and its people. How much more is the US willing to entertain? John Kerry has the power to not make deals with the Brazilian government. The world has no time for endless conversations. We need governments to act now. The Amazon rainforest is tipping and scientists are sounding the alarm of a “die-back.” Action was needed yesterday.”
ENDS
[1] “Brazil governors meet with U.S. envoy Kerry in appeal for climate aid.” Reuters 30 July 2021 https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-governors-meet-with-us-envoy-kerry-appeal-climate-aid-2021-07-30/
[2] “10 Essential Facts About Regularization Land Law in the Legal Amazon” Imazon March 2021 https://imazon.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/10FatosRegularizacaoFundiaria.pdf
