WORLD BULLETINS

British demand fuels Amazon fires

UK consumption of key products such as beef and soy are helping fuel fires in the Amazon and putting nature at risk, conservationists warn.

Brazil is one of the “riskiest” countries from which the UK imports key agricultural and forest commodities such as beef and leather, soy – mostly for animal feed – and pulp and paper, WWF and the RSPB said.

The wildlife groups warn that more than a quarter (28%) of the overseas land needed to meet British demand for key products is linked to countries with a high risk of human rights abuses, deforestation and other habitat destruction.

Brazil is one of the high-risk countries that the UK is most reliant on for commodities but demand for agricultural land in Brazil is driving habitat destruction, with fires set to clear land for crops or ranching.

According to the conservation organisations, 2,248 fire outbreaks were detected in the Amazon in June, the highest number for 13 years, and 36% higher than the average of the previous 10 years.

Fires and habitat destruction threatens wildlife in Brazil, which is home to 464 globally threatened species including the giant anteater and the black-faced spider monkey, the environmental groups said.