The Brazilian state of Amazonas recorded 196 fires in the first 24 days of June, an increase of 110% compared to the same period last year, according to data released by the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe).
The BC Queimadas programme of the Inpe recalled on this occasion that historically the number of fires and outbreaks increases in July, when the drought begins in the largest state of the Amazon.
Faced with the increase in fires, the governor of Amazonas, Wilson Lima, has launched a special operation in 12 municipalities, while for the NGO MapBiomas, the fires could be linked to the actions of farmers or breeders aimed at expanding the land of their crops or livestock grazing.
Since 2000, according to this organisation, more than 1 billion hectares have been turned into pastures in the Amazon. In 2022 alone, MapBiomas adds, the area deforested for cattle ranching in the biome was 57.5 million hectares.
The growth of fires in the Amazon occurs in the context of the destruction of more than 570,000 hectares in the west-central Pantanal, which is facing the worst fires in its history. Commenting on the emergency, Environment Minister Marina Silva claimed that most of the fires in the Pantanal have 'criminal' origins.
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