‘Record after record’: Brazil’s Amazon deforestation hits April high, nearly double previous peak
The Guardian
Climate analysts are astounded by such a high reading during the rainy season, and is the third monthly record this year.
Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon surged to record levels for the month of April, nearly doubling the area of forest removed in that month last year – the previous April record – preliminary government data has shown, alarming environmental campaigners. (...)
Destruction of the Brazilian Amazon in the first four months of the year also hit a record for the period of 1,954 square km (754 square miles), an increase of 69% compared to the same period of 2021, clearing an area more than double the size of New York City.
Deforestation in the Amazon has soared since rightwing president Jair Bolsonaro took office in 2019 and weakened environmental protection. Bolsonaro argues that more farming and mining in the Amazon will reduce poverty in the region. (...)
Preservation of the Amazon is vital to stopping catastrophic climate change because of the vast amount of climate-warming carbon dioxide it absorbs. (...)
> See also: ‘Relentless’ destruction of rainforest continuing despite Cop26 pledge (The Guarian)
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