Amazon deforestation hits April record

DEFORESTATION in Brazil’s Amazon surged to record levels for the month of April, nearly doubling the area of forest removed compared to the same period last year, preliminary government data showed, alarming environmental campaigners.

In the first 29 days of April, deforestation in the region totalled 1 012.5km², according to data from national space research agency Inpe. The agency, which has compiled the monthly DETER-B data series since 2015/2016, will report data for the final day of April next week.

April is the third monthly record this year, after new highs were also observed in January and February.

Destruction of the Brazilian Amazon in the first four months of the year also hit a record for the period of 1 954 km², an increase of 69% compared to the same period in 2021 – clearing an area more than double the size of New York City in the US.

Deforestation in the Amazon has soared since right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro took office in 2019 and weakened environmental protection. Bolsonaro argues that more farming and mining in the Amazon will reduce poverty in the region.

“The cause of this record has a first and last name: Jair Messias Bolsonaro,” said Marcio Astrini, head of Brazilian advocacy group Climate Observatory, in a statement. Bolsonaro’s office and the Environment Ministry did not immediately respond.