Loss of Amazon Rainforest Highest in 12 Years

Brasilia, Brazil —(Map)

Under Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, more of the country’s Amazon rainforest has been lost in the last year than in any of the last 12 years. The loss carries serious climate effects for the rest of the world.

Deforestation means cutting or burning down forests, usually over large areas. Deforestation anywhere isn’t good. Cutting down huge areas of forests is one thing that’s made the climate crisis  worse. But cutting down the rainforest is a special problem.

Deforestation means cutting or burning down forests, usually over large areas. Cutting down the rainforest is a special problem. More of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest has been lost in the last year than in any of the last 12 years.

The Amazon rainforest is the largest forest of its kind in the world. It covers around 2.1 million square miles (5.5 million square kilometers) of land in South America. About 60% of the Amazon rainforest is in Brazil.

The Amazon is sometimes called the “lungs of the planet”. That’s because trees, like most plants, use carbon dioxide as food, giving off oxygen, which humans breathe. That makes it extremely important in the fight against global warming, since carbon dioxide makes global warming worse.

But the Amazon rainforest is under attack. Mr. Bolsonaro believes that the Amazon is a great resource for businesses.

The Amazon rainforest is valuable to businesses in many ways. Logging companies can use the wood from the trees. Mining companies want to dig under the ground. And farmers want more land cleared to raise cows for meat and to plant crops like soybeans.

As president, Mr. Bolsonaro has encouraged mining and farming the Amazon, saying the money from these activities will help people in the area. He has also cut protections for the rainforest. This has allowed people and businesses to get away with destroying large areas illegally.

As president, Mr. Bolsonaro has encouraged mining and farming the Amazon, saying the money from these activities will help people in the area. He has also cut protections for the rainforest. Above, Mr. Bolsonaro in late November.

Last year was a terrible year for Brazil’s Amazon rainforest. The loss is measured by comparing satellite pictures of the rainforest from different years. This is usually measured in August. On Monday, INPE – Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research – announced the results for 2020.

This year, the loss of rainforest is even worse than last year, with over 4,280 square miles (11,088 square kilometers) destroyed. That’s a bigger area than the largest island in the state of Hawaii.

Brazil’s vice president, Hamilton Mourao agreed the news wasn’t good. But he pointed out that even though the rate of rainforest loss is still going up, it’s not going up as quickly as it did last year.

Last year, the huge loss of rainforest – both on purpose and because of wildfires – drew a strong reaction from countries around the world. Many world leaders demanded rapid action from Brazil’s government.

Under international pressure, Brazil’s government has sent in the military to help stop illegal activities. But Mr. Bolsonaro’s basic ideas about using the Amazon for business haven’t changed.

Last year, the huge loss of rainforest drew a strong reaction from countries around the world. Many world leaders demanded rapid action from Brazil’s government. Above, burning Brazil’s rainforest to clear it in August, 2019.

Many international leaders remain frustrated by the continued destruction in the Amazon. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, have both spoken out on the need to protect the Amazon rainforest.

In a debate this fall, US President-elect Joe Biden said that Brazil should be given money to help protect the Amazon, and be punished if it failed to protect it.