(Brasilia) Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon increased by almost 22% between August 2020 and July 2021, compared to the previous period, setting a record in the past 15 years, according to an official estimate released on Thursday.
Logging in the world’s largest rainforest spanned 13,235 km2 during the period 2020-2021, the highest value since 2005-2006 (14,286 km2), according to data from the PRODES deforestation monitoring system, from the National Institute of Space Research (INPE) of Brazil.
This is the third annual increase under the government of Jair Bolsonaro, who has come under international criticism for weakening surveillance of the Amazon biome (ecosystem) and defending extractive activities in protected areas.
These figures represent “a challenge for us and we will have to be firmer in the face of environmental crimes,” Brazilian Environment Minister Joaquim Leite admitted at a press conference in Brasilia shortly after the publication of the document.
He said, however, that these data “do not exactly reflect the reality of recent months.”
The Brazilian government says it has stepped up its efforts to fight illegal deforestation through an increased military presence on the ground.
Between August 2019 and July 2020, the deforested area amounted to 10,851 km2.
During the COP26 on climate, Brazil pledged to advance two years, from 2030 to 2028, the deadline to eliminate illegal deforestation in its territory, which is home to 60% of the Amazon.