The number of fires in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest surged to a record high for the month of July, the highest in nearly two decades.
Government data, as reported by Reuters, indicated 11,434 fire hotspots were detected by satellites in July.
This is the largest number for that month since 2005.
The drought in the region, exacerbated by climate change, has contributed to the increase in fires.
The Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest, is crucial for absorbing greenhouse gases and mitigating global warming.
Despite its importance, the region has seen 17,582 square kilometers (6,788 square miles) burned this year, the most extensive area since 2003.
Fire hotspots, while not indicative of the severity of blazes, are a fast indicator of fire activity in the region.
Unlike regions such as the western United States or the Mediterranean, fires in the Amazon rainforest do not occur naturally.
They are ignited by human activities, particularly by farmers clearing land for agriculture.
The prolonged drought has left more vegetation dried out and susceptible to fires, which often peak between late August and the end of September.
On Wednesday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed a new policy into law to control fires.
The legislation, signed during a visit to the Pantanal wetlands, prohibits setting fires to destroy forests or native vegetation for agriculture, with limited exceptions.
Lula stated on social media platform X that the new law would also improve firefighting efforts.
He has pledged to halt deforestation in Brazil by 2030 to restore the country’s environmental credentials.
The fires are not confined to Brazil alone.
Neighboring countries like Bolivia and Venezuela are also experiencing record fires in their parts of the Amazon.
The widespread nature of these fires underscores the regional challenge posed by climate change and human activities.
The Brazilian Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland, is facing one of its worst wildfire seasons on record.
Nearly two million acres have burned through mid-July.
Fire outbreaks surged by 1500% compared to the same period in 2023.
Residents like Jane Silva, who lives in the region, described the situation: “There is a lot of smoke and the children are struggling to breathe. The fires get worse every year.”
