Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon Doubled in January

Officials in Brazil said that deforestation in the country doubled in January compared to last year despite the rainy season. Last month reached a five-year record high, the officials added.

The official data showed that deforestation remained high rather than slowing down or falling to the same low levels as in the past. It is known that the destruction of the Amazon forest tends to slow down this time of year because of the rainy season.

Meanwhile, BBC News reports that critics of the country's President said that Bolsonaro's policies and rhetoric encourage illegal activities in the country that have led to the destruction of the forest.

The Amazon rainforest plays a very important role as it stores carbon that helps slow down the pace of global warming. Critics said that the policies of President Bolsonaro in the environment are widely condemned by many, however he has rejected the criticisms and instead stated that Brazil remains an example for world conservation.

According to the space research agency INPE, more than 280 square kilometers was cleared in January. A considerable increase of 108 percent since January of last year. One square kilometer is equivalent to 200 football fields.

Meanwhile, scientist and researcher at Sao Paolo University, Climatologist Carlos Nobre, said that deforestation this year could surpass the record set last year. In 2019, the country recorded destruction of an estimated 1,000 square kilometers per month and this happened during dry seasons that occur between July and September.

Nobre told a news outlet that, "It's very worrying the increase in January 2020. It suggests that the factors that caused the increase in deforestation in 2019 are still very active. It's time for an effective and comprehensive action to control and contain illegalities in the Amazon."

It can be remembered that President Bolosonaro has previously criticized IBAMA, an environmental law enforcement agency, for what the President described as having "excessive fines" and he also added that during his first year in office he saw a sharp drop in financial penalties being imposed for environmental violations. Moreover, the agency at present remains underfunded and understaffed.

One operative who works for IBAMA said: "We see a huge difference [in deforestation]... We thought there would be a drop off because of the weather and all that, but it didn't happen."

IBAMA and the environmental ministry of Brazil have not given any comments regarding this matter. On the other hand, Bolsonaro revealed a project to open up Amazon's protected indigenous reserves to commercial mining and farming which made headlines throughout the world. However, this plan still needs the approval of Congress.

Critics of the president and environmental advocates said that the plan of Bolsonaro could widely increase the deforestation in the country. While Bolsonaro who has criticized the size of indigenous reserved said that the indigenous groups will benefit in the economic development of the identified areas.

Joenia Wapichana, the only indigenous congresswoman in Brazil, posted this on her social media account:

"Mining on indigenous lands is illegal and unconstitutional... Mining only brings pollution and death. We don't want the deaths of rivers, the forest, and indigenous peoples."

However, Bolsonaro said that the indigenous are like animals in the zoo and vowed that he will integrate the indigenous people into the rest of the population. The President was also criticized last month after he said that indigenous are evolving and are becoming more human.