- Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon remains near a six-year low, with 561 square kilometers cleared in September, a 30% decline from the previous year.
- Fires in the Amazon have surged dramatically, with an 18-fold increase in the area affected by fires, from 4,700 to 39,983 square kilometers, driven by a historic drought.
- Fire hotspots detected by satellite in the Amazon increased by 70%, rising to 145,357 compared to 85,670 the previous year.
- Scientists warn that deforestation, forest degradation, and climate change could destabilize the Amazon, affecting rainfall patterns and biodiversity across South America.
The rate of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has remained near a six-year low despite a surge in the number of fires burning in Earth’s largest rainforest, according to data released on Friday by Brazil’s national space research institute, INPE.
INPE’s deforestation alert system (DETER) reported that 561 square kilometers were cleared in September, bringing the 12-month total to 4,191 square kilometers—an area equivalent to nearly 600,000 football fields. This marks a 30% decline from the 6,029 square kilometers recorded at the same time last year.
While deforestation has decreased significantly, the area affected by fires in the Brazilian Amazon surged nearly 18-fold, from 4,700 square kilometers to 39,983 square kilometers, as fires ravaged regions hit by a historic drought. The number of fire hotspots detected by satellite rose to 145,357, a 70% increase from 85,670 at the same time last year.
Fires are widespread across South America this year, causing air pollution and health impacts. In Brazil, fires outside the Amazon have been particularly severe in the Pantanal and Cerrado.
Scientists have warned that the combination of deforestation, forest degradation, and climate change could destabilize the Amazon rainforest, leading to widespread die-offs of trees across its southern and eastern regions. This would affect rainfall patterns on a continental scale and trigger a sharp decline in species dependent on the rainforest ecosystem.
The Brazilian government is expected to release a preliminary official deforestation figure for the year ending July 31 toward the end of 2024. Brazil tracks deforestation on this timeline because cloud cover is typically minimal around July, facilitating year-over-year comparisons.
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