Brazil reaches out to Norway, Germany after halt to aid funding over Amazon wildfires

Record ID: 1429724

  • Title: Brazil reaches out to Norway, Germany after halt to aid funding over Amazon wildfires
  • Date: 2nd September 2019
  • Summary: APUI, AMAZONAS, BRAZIL (RECENT - AUGUST 31, 2019) (REUTERS) SMOKE, EMBERS FROM CHARRED LOG FIREFIGHTERS SWEEPING AT CHARRED EARTH AFTER PUTTING OUT FIRE
  • Embargoed: 16th September 2019 20:54
  • Keywords: Brazil Norway Germany governors Amazon wildfires meeting
  • Location: APUI, AMAZONAS + BELEM, PARA, BRAZIL
  • City: APUI, AMAZONAS + BELEM, PARA, BRAZIL
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Wildfires/Forest Fires
  • Reuters ID: LVA001AUYSRIF
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Brazil's Environment Minister Ricardo Salles told media on Monday (September 2) that Brasilia has held talks with Norway and Germany over Amazon wildfires after the two European states halted aid due to environmental concerns.
    Last month, Norway has suspended donations supporting projects to curb deforestation in Brazil after the country's right-wing government blocked operations of a fund receiving the aid. Germany also suspended 35 million euros ($39 million) in funding of Amazon preservation in Brazil due to increasing deforestation.
    President Jair Bolsonaro reacted angrily to the suspension of funding and said Brazil would not take any lessons from the donor countries.
    Salles took a more conciliatory tone during a meeting with governors of Brazil's Amazon states, saying that talks with Germany and Norway on the issue were progressing.
    Wildfires raging in the Amazon rainforest have jumped this year, with nearly 80,000 fires recorded this year through Aug. 24, the highest level since at least 2013, according to Brazil's space research centre INPE.
    Bolsonaro's environmental policies have come under intense scrutiny as images of the burning Amazon have sparked international outrage and concern about the consequences for global warming.
    Through July, destruction of Brazil's rainforest is up 67% compared to the same period a year ago, according to preliminary data released by the country's National Institute for Space Research (INPE). Nearly 80,000 fires have been recorded this year through Aug. 24, INPE says.
    (Production: Douglas Engle)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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