This surge in wildfires presents a challenge for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s administration, as the number of fires rises despite a decline in deforestation….reports Asian Lite News
The Brazilian Amazon recorded 13,489 wildfires in the first half of this year, the worst figure in 20 years, according to satellite data released Monday, media reported.
This marks a 61 percent increase from the 8,344 fires detected during the same period last year, attributed to a historic drought that impacted the world’s largest tropical rainforest, AFP reported.
Since Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research began tracking this data in 1998, only 2003 (17,143) and 2004 (17,340) have seen more wildfires from January to June.
This surge in wildfires presents a challenge for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s administration, as the number of fires rises despite a decline in deforestation.
Record-breaking wildfire numbers were also observed in two other biodiverse ecosystems south of the Amazon: the Pantanal and the Cerrado savanna.
The Pantanal, known for its rich wildlife including caimans, parrots, giant otters, and the world’s highest density of jaguars, recorded 3,538 wildfires in the first half of 2024 — a more than 2,000 percent increase from last year.
The Cerrado experienced almost as many fires as the Amazon during this period, with 13,229 wildfires recorded, it was reported.