DEFORESTATION IN BRAZIL’S AMAZON RAINFOREST HIT RECORD IN APRIL

RIO DE JANEIRO: Deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon hit a record last month, the government reported on Friday with figures that belie President Jair Bolsonaro’s pledge to crack down on such destruction.

The area of the rainforest that was destroyed - 580 square kilometres - marked a new high for the month of April and a 42.5% on-year rise, according to satellite monitoring by the Brazilian space agency INPE. Its data goes back to 2015.

The level for March was also higher than 12 months earlier, and followed two months of decline in the rainy season when logging activity decreases.

From January through April 29, however, the cutting of trees to provide lumber and clear land for agriculture was down 3.9% compared to the same period in 2020, INPE said.

The dry season, which peaks in July and August, is when most deforestation happens.

Records have been set in the past three dry seasons, INPE said.

About 60% of the rainforest is in Brazil.