Amazon logging escalates in lockdown

Location: Brazil South America
Topic: Agriculture Biodiversity Climate change Circular economy COVID-19 Food & nutrition Health
Other Tags: Amazon Biosphere breakdown COVID-19 Deforestation Food production Future of Sustainability Human health Planetary health

by Futures Centre, Oct 1
1 minute read

From January to April 2020, the rate of Amazon deforestation was up 55% on the previous year, Reuters reports. Under President Bolsonaro, the power of the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Natural Renewable Resources (IBAMA) to combat deforestation has been severely reduced, with 21 out of 27 state superintendents dismissed. Reduced surveillance due to COVID-19 is also emboldening illegal loggers, who are creating a gig economy of poorly paid workers ignoring lockdown measures.

So what?

The selective cutting and clearing of high value trees also involves the formation of access roads, paving the way for land speculation and the clearing of the remaining forest for cattle, soy or other crops. Human health risks include rising COVID-19 infections, particularly affecting indigenous people experiencing heightened exposure, and respiratory disease due to huge volumes of ash and smoke from burning forests.