Amidst a climate emergency gripping the Amazon rainforest, Brazil's government has issued a stern warning to ranchers and farmers, urging them to halt the practice of setting fires in the region. The Amazon has been blanketed by dense, gray smoke, rendering the air unbreathable in the northern city of Manaus.
Environment Minister Marina Silva, in a press statement, emphasized that fires in the Amazon are not natural occurrences but are primarily the result of criminal actions or deforestation.
"There are people criminally setting fire to public and private areas," stated Silva, as she outlined the severe consequences of these actions.
The announcement comes as the Amazon faces a historic drought, exacerbated by the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has led to below-average rainfall, intensifying the pollution caused by the annual burning season.
This time of the year typically witnesses a surge in fires in the Amazon, as the diminishing rains make it more convenient for ranchers and farmers to use fires to clear land, rear cattle, and cultivate commercial crops. The Brazilian government has reported that 60 out of the 62 cities in the northern state of Amazonas have declared a state of emergency due to the ongoing drought and wildfires. The month of October is anticipated to be particularly challenging for the region.
In response to the escalating crisis, the government has announced plans to deploy over 300 firefighters and two aircraft to combat the fires. Additionally, those found intentionally setting fires on private properties will face property embargoes and will be ineligible to obtain funding, as per Rodrigo Agostinho, the head of the environmental agency IBAMA.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been actively working to reverse the environmental degradation that occurred under his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, when deforestation rates in the Amazon skyrocketed. Preliminary data from the space research agency INPE shows a significant 49.5% decrease in deforestation in the region during the first nine months of 2023.
"If we hadn't reduced deforestation by almost 50%, we would be living through the Apocalypse," Silva warned. She underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, "Right now, we're in a climate emergency in Brazil."
As Brazil grapples with the dire consequences of environmental destruction and wildfires, the government's plea to halt the Amazon's burning has taken center stage in its efforts to combat the ongoing climate emergency.
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