Disaster fires in Brazil’s wetlands – NRK Urix – Foreign news and documentaries

So far this year, there have been about 15,000 fires in the Pantanal, the vast area of ​​wetlands in central and western Brazil.

That is more than three times more than in the same period last year, according to the Brazilian media.

The fires have destroyed an area of ​​more than 25,000 square kilometers, equivalent to all of Viken County. Therefore, 12 percent of the wetland area has caught fire.

The Pantanal is considered one of the richest ecosystems on earth, with a unique plant and animal life.

Animal tragedy

One of the things that has impressed the most in Brazil are the images of animals burned to death, unable to escape the huge flames.

Among the many animal species that inhabit the Pantanal, there are around 1,200 species of vertebrates, of which 36 are in danger of extinction.

The area is also known for its unique birds. And it has a higher incidence of jaguars than anywhere else in the world.

– No one has a preliminary description of how many animals have lost their lives in the flames. But there are certainly thousands, says biologist Rogério Rossi of the Federal University of the state of Mato Grosso to the news agency. Reuters.

Extreme drought

There are several reasons why Brazil’s wetlands are experiencing the worst fire year in a long time. One of them is that the area has been affected by an extreme drought.

In this part of Brazil there is usually a lot of rain, but this year it has hardly rained and the vegetation is very dry.

Many of the fires are started by farmers, who clear the vegetation to be able to use the land for agriculture and livestock.

In the Pantanal it is also common to burn roots to drive away wild bees and thus be able to harvest their honey, according to the newspaper O Globo.

And so far there is little hope that there will be fewer fires in the Pantanal. This is the driest season in the area and no major weather changes are expected until November.

Climate changes

– The fires definitely have something to do with climate change. The climate in much of the southern Amazon has become much drier in the last ten years. Helps burn more intensely when on fire.

That’s what Torkjell Leira, Brazilian expert and author of the book “The Battle for the Rainforest” says.

It is usually dry this time of year, but this year it is extra strong. The fact that the forest is divided into smaller and smaller areas, by roads, agriculture, and power masts, also means that it dries up faster. On top of that, Brazil has a president who encourages arson and deforestation, explains Leira.

There have been periods of such intense drought before, but never related to such intense fires in areas as large as now.

Leira compares the fires in California to those in the Pantanal in Brazil.

– California is much drier in the first place. There, the forest has adapted to regular forest fires. He recovers faster afterwards. This is not the case for the Pantanal ecosystem, and fires cause enormous damage that cannot be cured so easily.

Fires in the Amazon

Brazil’s wetlands are located south of the Amazon rainforest and there have also been a record number of fires recently.

In the first half of this month, there were more fires than in all of September of last year, according to National Institute of Space of Brazil (INPE). So far in September, 20,485 fires have been registered, compared to 19,925 for the entire month of last year, according to INPE.

So far in 2020, almost 60,000 fires have been recorded in the Brazilian Amazon, the highest number since 2010.

In addition to climate and environmental damage, the many fires in the Amazon and the Pantanal also create significant health problems. This is especially relevant during the coronary pandemic, as smoke from the fires has caused additional respiratory problems for many patients.

Want a weekly letter from Urix? Click here