Burning area in Brazil: more than five times the size of Switzerland
Published: Saturday, Oct 12th 2024, 01:30
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So far this year, an area more than five times the size of Switzerland has burned in Brazil. A total of 22.38 million hectares caught fire between January and September, according to a report by the "MapBiomas" initiative.
This corresponds to an increase of 150 percent compared to the same period in 2023. The network consists of universities, non-governmental organizations and technology companies and examines satellite images, among other things.
More than half of the area burned was in the Amazon region. In September alone, 5.5 million hectares, more than the area of Switzerland, were burned there - a jump of 196 percent compared to the same month last year. "The dry season in the Amazon region, which normally lasts from June to October, was particularly severe this year and has further exacerbated the fire crisis in the region," said Ane Alencar from MapBiomas. The Amazon rainforest is considered a CO2 reservoir and plays an important role in the international fight against climate change.
The Cerrado - Brazil's water reservoir and home to around five percent of all animal and plant species on the planet - was the second most affected biome by fires in September with 4.3 million hectares. There was an increase of 158 percent compared to the same month last year. In the Pantanal, the world's largest wetland, an area of almost 318,000 hectares burned in September - an increase of 662 percent compared to the same month last year.
Worst fires for 14 years in Brazil
According to data from the Institute for Space Research (Inpe), which is responsible for satellite monitoring, the worst fires in 14 years have been raging in Brazil since the beginning of the year.
According to the environmental organization WWF, the main reasons for this are deliberate arson. In most cases, the trees are first felled and the deforested areas are then set on fire to create new pasture and arable land for soybean cultivation. If these fires get out of control, they can cause huge wildfires. The situation this year is also exacerbated by a severe drought.
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