BRASILIA – The Brazilian Amazon has suffered its worst June for forest fires since 2007, official data showed yesterday, indicating another devastating dry season for the world’s largest rainforest.
The INPE research institute said its satellites detected 2,308 fires last month, an increase of 2.3% from June 2020.
The previous record for the month of June was in 2007 with 3,519 fires.
The grim statistic comes after May this year saw the most number of fires – 1,166 – since the worst May on record in 2007.
Environmental groups blame the trend on the government of President Jair Bolsonaro, who has promoted commercialisation of the Amazon since coming to power in 2019 and described NGOs trying to protect the jungle as a “cancer.” – AFP, July 2, 2021
