Lula promises to eliminate deforestation by 2030, but projections from the Ministry of Agriculture indicate a 17% increase in beef production in the next ten years, which could lead to the deforestation of one million hectares per year until 2030. Alternatives to further clearing of the forest are the restoration of the pastures and an increase in productivity, allied with oversight measures that put an end to illegal land grabs.
Category: Regions
‘The fight goes on’: four indigenous leaders from Amazonia outline their expectations for the next four years
In a conversations with InfoAmazonia, Maial Kaiapó, Samela Sateré-Mawé, Júnior Hekurari Yanomami and Alessandra Korap Munduruku spoke about the historically important establishment of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, and the sense of relief following the dismantling of environmental policies.
Accelerated deforestation in the last months of 2022 poses challenges for Lula’s environmental policy
Not only were INPE’s DETER deforestation alerts in 2022 the highest in history, they surpassed the average for the previous 12 months by 25%. The state of Amazonas ranked second among those Brazilian states inside the Legal Amazon that lost the most rainforest.
From Bolivia to the Tapajós: mercury trafficking for wildcat mining operations on Munduruku Indigenous Territories
InfoAmazonia visited location where illegal mercury is sold along the border between Bolivia and Brazil, for illegal use by wildcat gold mining operations in Amazonia. After the Minamata Convention, Bolivia became the world’s largest mercury importer and it is estimated that half of the metal is sold as contraband to neighboring countries including Brazil, which has eliminated its legal mercury imports.
The challenges Lula will face to eradicate illegal deforestation in Amazonia by 2028
Specialists focus on the difficulties the new 2023 administration faces to reach the goal promised by the Bolsonaro administration at COP26 last year. Escalating deforestation rates could keep Brazil from carrying out its promise.
Protected areas absorb 27% of greenhouse gas emissions in Amazonia
A Brazilian Climate Observatory study found that the dense vegetation in the states of Amazonas and Amapá, regions whose territories are more than half composed of Conservation Units and Indigenous Territories, was able to remove all the CO2e that had been released to their atmosphere in 2021.
Four years of Bolsonaro’s Amazon destruction, in satellite imagery
Deforestation in the Amazon has spiraled out of control during Jair Bolsonaro’s as president. InfoAmazonia and PlenaMata have illustrated the destruction using satellite imagery.
Activists slam Bolsonaro rule change seen as ending demarcation of Indigenous lands
Sem participação dos povos indígenas, governo estabelece novo estatuto para Funai. Entidades indigenistas denunciam que mudanças na estrutura impactam funcionamento do órgão e afetarão demarcação de terras indígenas.
Pro-environment bloc in the Chamber shrinks by 20%, but gains heavyweight names
Brazilians elect 81 federal deputies committed to the environmental cause, 20 fewer than in the current legislature. Former environment minister Marina Silva and indigenous leader Sônia Guajajara promise to heat up debates on the issue in Brasília.
Deforestation in the Amazon in the month of July increases by 160% during the past three years of the Bolsonaro administration
An area the size of the city of São Paulo was deforested in the Amazon in July 2022 alone. Pará state leads the monthly ranking; however, the cumulative total for the year shows Amazonas state in the lead for the first time. Estimates suggest that the annual rate of deforestation in the biome will be the highest since 2006.