(FILES) This file photo taken on August 23, 2019 shows an aerial view of a deforested piece of land in the Amazon rainforest near an area affected by fires, about 65 km from Porto Velho, in the state of Rondonia, in northern Brazil - Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon continued to increase last month, according to official figures that recorded the worst month of May since measurements began in 2015. (Photo by Carl DE SOUZA / AFP)
The Brazilian Amazon’s continued trend of deforestation has resulted in a revision of statistics released last year.
According to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE), data released last year, which clocked deforestation rates between August 2018 and July 2019 at 9 762km2, has recently been revised to indicate an even more significant figure.
According to the INPE, 10 129km2 of forest was destroyed between 2018 and 2019 – 3.76% higher than previously reported.
This increase was calculated by analysing hundreds of images of states that make up the Brazilian Legal Amazon (ALB). The states of Pará, Mato Grosso, Amazonas and Rondônia contributed to over 80% of deforestation in the ALB. The region was ravaged by forest fires last year, with 78 383 fires recorded, the highest since 2013. Over half of these fires occurred in the Amazon, home to about 20 million people, and countless unique species. And with Brazil entering its dry season, when the bulk of deforestation activities and fires take place, deforestation rates are likely to increase. Issues for the region have been compounded due to the world-wide Covid-19 pandemic.
For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.
