Cerrado records record deforestation in February, warns Inpe

Deforestation alerts in the Amazon reach a record in February, reports Inpe

A city the size of Fortaleza is the area with deforestation alerts in the Amazon in February! The data released this Friday (10) by the Deter-B system, from the Institute for Space Research (Inpe), points to 322 km² under threat in the Legal Amazon last month 😔. The accumulated number for the month represents an increase of 61,8% compared to February 2022 and a historic record. 🌳

According to the information, 558 km² of the Cerrado were destroyed, 99% more than in the same period last year and almost double the record of 283 km², in February 2020.

The numbers show President Lula's challenges in reversing environmental destruction.

To date, Lula has mobilized environmental protection agencies, relaunched a forest protection program and obtained international support to reactivate the Amazon Fund, which has more than US$580 million (around R$3 billion) to combat deforestation.

Amazon Fund receives R$3,3 billion in donations

The president of the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), Aloizio Mercadante, announced that the Amazon Fund has already received R$3,3 billion in donations, including R$1 billion from Norway and R$200 million from Germany. In total, the fund, managed by BNDES, accumulates R$5,4 billion, with R$1,8 billion already contracted.

Environmental groups have shown patience with the new government as they await data on the dry season, which begins in July, when deforestation tends to increase.

“It is difficult to reverse the damage of an anti-environmental policy in such a short period of time,” said Frederico Machado, from the NGO WWF-Brazil. “The reduction in deforestation will only occur when there is a consistent reversal of the weakening of the institutions responsible for monitoring,” he added, in a note.

(To AFP)

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