Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has broken a new record in the first six months of the year, according to Brazil’s National Space Research Institute (Inpe), which analyzes satellite images.
The world’s largest tropical rainforest has lost 3,750 square kilometers of jungle since the beginning of the year, which is the highest figure compared to the same period since such measurements began in 2016, according to Inpe.
More than 7,500 fires have been registered since the beginning of the year, an increase of 17 percent compared to 2021, and the worst figure since 2010. In June this year, forest fires in the area have been the worst in 15 years.
President Jair Bolsonaro has encouraged mining and agriculture in protected areas and environmental activists and opposition figures accuse the government of pushing through policies that encourage companies to destroy the environment.
See more about deforestation in the Amazon in the player above