83 Central Parks' Worth Of Brazilian Amazon Clearcut Just In January 2020; More Than Double YOY
Despite global concern over last years catastrophic forest destruction and associated fires in Earths largest rainforest, deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon continues to rise, according to data from Brazils national space research institute INPE.
INPEs deforestation alert system DETER shows that deforestation during January 2020 amounted to 284 square kilometers (110 square miles), an area 83 times the size of New Yorks Central Park. The loss is more than twice that registered in January 2019.
Januarys numbers put deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon over 9,000 sq km for the past 12 months, an 85% increase over a year ago. 4,688 sq km have been cleared since August 1, 2019, the beginning of the year Brazil uses for tracking annual deforestation, or 113% higher than the same time last year. The various data points suggest that forest destruction in the Brazilian Amazon is currently pacing about double last years rate.
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon made global headlines last year when smoke from land-clearing fires blackened the skies above São Paulo, Brazils largest city. Although the fires werent anywhere near historic records, the Armageddon-like conditions fueled a frenzy of social media activity and protests around the world. The fires brought global attention to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaros policies in the Amazon, which scientists and environmentalists say are contributing to the sharp rise in forest destruction. Deforestation last year hit the highest level in at least 12 years.
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https://news.mongabay.com/2020/02/deforestation-in-brazil-continues-torrid-pace-into-2020/