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The number of fires in the Amazon until October 22, 2020 is already higher than that registered throughout 2019.
So far, 89,604 fires have been recorded in the Amazon this year. Throughout 2019, the number of fires was 89,176. The current year also surpasses several previous ones, such as 2018 and 2016.
The growth of fire in the Amazon occurs despite the presence of the Armed Forces, in Operation Brazil Verde 2, in the forest since May.
Considering only the month of October, until the 22nd, the Inpe (National Institute for Space Research) registered 13,574 hot spots, 73% more than the same month last year. The number is also 27% higher than October 2018 and is on track to surpass 2016 and 2017.
The fires have been growing month after month since June of this year. In relation to what was observed in 2019, August 2020 had a slightly lower record, but, that month, there was a problem with the satellites that accompany the fire in the biome, which resulted in an underestimated value.
Researchers have been warning of a possible increase in fires in 2020 due to large and increasing levels of deforestation in recent years: fire and deforestation are directly related because, after forest clearing, fire is used to clean organic material on site.
Between August 2018 and July 2019, more than 10,000 km² of forest were cut down, according to data from Prodes (Inpe’s program that measures annual deforestation). The value is 34% higher than the same period last year.
Data from Deter (another Inpe system, used to help environmental inspection) indicate that the 2019-2020 period also had strong growth in deforestation.
At the same time that the fire grows in 2020, and not only in the Amazon, the fight against fires is being questioned. Last Thursday (22), Ibama announced, due to lack of funds, the interruption of the action of the brigadistas against the fires and the determination of the return of all of them to their bases.
The order affected all biomes, including the Pantanal, which faces the worst year of burning ever recorded in the biome.
This Friday (23), the government announced the immediate resumption of the action of the brigadistas.
“I determine the return of all Ibama forest fire brigades to their respective activities and operations as of the current date,” says the letter signed by Ricardo Vianna Barreto, head of the Prevfogo Specialized Center, Ibama’s firefighting unit.
Another firefighting ferry had already taken place at the end of August, when the Ministry of the Environment announced the suspension of all operations to combat illegal deforestation and burning in the Legal Amazon and the Pantanal due to a financial blockade determined by SOF (Secretariat Federal Budget). The funds were subsequently released and shares resumed.
