The rate of deforestation in the Amazon fell 1,5% last month compared to July 2021, but remains close to record levels, renewing concern among environmentalists about the growing destruction of the largest tropical forest on the planet.
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According to data from DETER – a satellite surveillance system from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) – in July, 1.476 km² of vegetation were deforested in the Brazilian Amazon forest, 25 times the surface of Manhattan.
This represents a slight reduction compared to the 1.498 km² detected in the same period in 2021, but places the month of July as the fifth worst month since records began in 2015.
The four worst months so far were July 2019, 2020 and 2021 and August 2019: all above 1.400 km² and all during Jair Bolsonaro's administration.
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“It is worrying to see such high rates of deforestation at a time when we are already experiencing the effects of climate change, whether through drought, extreme temperatures or floods,” Edegar de Oliveira, Director of Conservation at the environmental NGO WWF Brasil, told AFP.
The month of July – marked by dry weather – marks the beginning of the season in which deforestation tends to intensify.
The numbers recorded in July are high, despite INPE only processing the data until the 29th, not counting the last two days of the month.
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With information from AFP.
See also:
- Fires in the Amazon grow 8% in July, says Inpe
- Satellites record 1.476 km² of deforestation in the Amazon in July (Valor Econômico)🚥
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