The Amazon Rainforest Burns For The Fourth Week In A Row

 

by: Victor Jorges / News Director     

Oscar Valverde works at the International Center for Tropical Botany at FIU and specializes in the Amazonian rainforest – which is still burning for the third week in a row.

This year, Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research says they detected over 39,000 fires in the Amazon rainforest, 83% more than last year, according to INPE. 

Experts from National Geographic believe that this ecosystem provides 20% of the oxygen needed for humanity. But, humanity, says Valverde, is adding stress to the trees leading to a weaker ecosystem.

“What is happening is a complex process mediated by social and ecological interactions. Briefly, trees are highly stressed because of changes in climatic patterns regionally,” said Valverde. “Moreover, human actions are putting too much stress on the entire ecosystem due to deforestation, fire, and mining in the Amazon basin.”

There are also fires blazing other areas of the country, adding up to around 75,000 – the highest number since the records began in 2013.

According to Valverde, the driven nationalist movement in Brazil, pushed by the business of agriculture and corporation interest, is encouraging farmers and local businesses to be more bold about the use of land considered natural areas or Indigenous reserves. 

Aside from that, the global economic changes due to the trade wars between China and the U.S., are applying even more pressure for new land for crops in Latin America.

Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s socially liberal president, has been actively diverting other countries’ desire to aid. When French President Emmanuel Macron suggested having meetings about the issue at the upcoming G-7 leaders’ summit, Bolsonaro accused him of having a “colonialist mindset.”

These political situations and tensions could explain the blatant delay and muted reactions from global media and the Brazilian government. 

“There has been an active role of the current government to deny any perceived negative news as fake or opposition smears on the administration performance “

There is major environmental backlash facing the globe. The smoke from the fire left Sao Paulo, one of the country’s biggest cities, in complete darkness for an hour on August 19. It was around 3 p.m. 

There are human and social effects too. 

“Unfortunately the Amazon rainforest and the native people living there will face very hard times,” said Valverde. “The ecosystem is facing a lot of threats due to more severe droughts, stronger storms and higher surges due to climatic change.”

According to Valverde, the future of the region does not look as bright as the flames that engulf it. 

“The international outcry will make Bolsonaro change his position and try to stop the fires, but it is a cosmetic reaction. The damage is already done, and there are little signs that it would slow down in the future.”