Amazon Rainforest Fires What The Long Term Damage Could Be As Deforestation Edges Closer To Tipping Point From Which There Is No Return

But what could the long-term damage of these fires be for the world’s largest tropical rainforest—60 percent of which is found in Brazil?

“Forest fires to clear land can also get out of control, spreading beyond the intended burn,” she told Newsweek. “This endangers wildlife and jeopardizes the livelihoods of millions. A new WWF study just reported that we’ve already seen 53 percent declines of forest species populations in the past 40 years. Forest fires like add even more pressure to vulnerable wildlife.”

INPE figures show an 83 percent increase in fire outbreaks in Brazil in comparison to the same period in 2018, representing the highest number of blazes since the agency began collecting such data in 2013, Reuters reported.

In fact, INPE says it has identified more than 72,000 fires in Brazil between January and August this year, comfortably more than the roughly 40,000 recorded in the entirety of 2018.

“The fact that the plume of smoke reached Sao Paulo and blackened an afternoon proves how unusual the fires that burn in the countryside of Brazil are,” Mello said.

The latest figures come amid international outcry over the inaction of President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration.

Last month, Bolsonaro criticized data collected by INPE, which indicated that there had been a significant rise in deforestation rates. Notably, the figures showed that in July this year, deforestation had increased nearly 300 percent in comparison to the same month in 2018.

The president accused the agency of making up “lies” that could hurt the country’s trade talks and subsequently fired its chief, replacing him with a military official.

Environmentalists are becoming increasingly concerned with his administration, accusing the government of encouraging deforestation and emboldening those who want to exploit the forest for commercial gain.

“Farmers clear cut land to make way for agriculture, and then wait for the dry season to ignite fires to clear the land so they can plant,” Symington said. “It’s likely that all of these forest fires are deliberately set by humans.”

When asked if the forest fires were linked to the environmental policies of Bolsonaro, Mollo responded:

“Data speaks for itself: Brazil saw a peak in deforestation, followed by a peak of fires. Indigenous peoples are threatened and killed. The environmental governance is weakened month after month. The connection is evident.”