- Title: Brazil temporarily bans fires in Amazon rainforest after investor pressure
- Date: 9th July 2020
- Summary: RONDONIA STATE, BRAZIL (FILE - AUGUST 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF IBAMA (BRAZILIAN INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES) AGENCY EMPLOYEES PREPARING TO FIGHT FOREST FIRES VARIOUS OF IBAMA EMPLOYEES FIGHTING FIRES
- Embargoed: 23rd July 2020 21:16
- Keywords: Amazon Bolsonaro Brazil biodiversity burning deforestation environment fires jungle rainforest
- Location: BRASILIA, RONDONIA STATE & RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
- City: BRASILIA, RONDONIA STATE & RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Environment
- Reuters ID: LVA006CM39V0N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Brazil's government announced on Thursday (July 9) it planned to ban setting fires in the Amazon for 120 days, in a meeting with global investors to address their rising concerns over destruction of the rainforest.
The decree banning fires, set to be issued next week, repeats a similar temporary ban instituted last year when forest fires surged, provoking outcry that Brazil was not doing enough to protect the world's largest rainforest.
Brazil's government, led by Vice President Hamilton Mourao, had arranged Thursday's video conference in response to a letter sent by 29 global firms demanding the government stop environmental destruction that has surged since right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro took office at the start of last year.
Some firms are putting additional investments in Brazil on hold or threatening to divest if Bolsonaro's government does not act.
Deforestation has risen 34% in the first five months of 2020, compared to a year-ago, after hitting an 11-year high in 2019, according to government statistics.
Following last year's ban and deployment of the military to fight forest fires, Amazon blazes declined in September and October 2019, compared to the same months a year prior. Bolsonaro sent the military again starting in May this year, three months earlier than in 2019.
Researchers say there are worrying signs for a flare up in fires again this year as the peak season for blazes arrives in August through November. Government data showed last week the number of fires rose 20% in June to a 13-year-high for the month.
Mourao said in a briefing after the meeting that Brazil was being unfairly criticized over Amazon deforestation and that the government had inherited understaffed environmental agencies.
For example, Mourao said the government does not have enough personnel to stop outsiders from entering 1 million square kilometers of protected indigenous lands that are being increasingly invaded by illegal loggers and gold miners.
Public health experts and anthropologists fear the invaders are spreading coronavirus that could decimate Amazon tribes.
(Production: Sebastian Rocandio, Leonardo Benassatto, Leandra Camera, Patrick Alwine) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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