The Amazon is the most biodiverse rainforest on the planet but widespread fires are threatening thousands of animal and plant species. Over a 48-hour period leading up to Thursday (August 22) more than 2,500 fires were burning throughout the rainforest. Since the start of the year, Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) has claimed a record number of more than 75,000 fires – twice the number of fires in 2018. Alexandre Antonelli, Director of Science at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, warned of the devastating impact of the Amazon fires.
Professor Antonelli, who is from Brazil, said: “The Amazon is the most biodiverse forest on Earth.
“The alarmingly high number of human-triggered fires happening right now in the southern deforestation zone is releasing vast quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and posing a severe threat to thousands of plant and animal species.
“Most of these have inhabited the region for hundreds of thousands of years, and many more could contain important properties for our societies – such as cures for yet untreatable diseases.”
The Amazon fires have been largely linked to deforestation efforts, agriculture and the environmental policies of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
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Amazon rainforest fires: Climate protestors around the globe have urged for action (Image: AFP/GETTY)
Amazon rainforest fires: There have been more than 75,000 fires since January this year (Image: AFP PHOTO/GETTY)
On Thursday, the environmental group Greenpeace attacked the Brazilian Government for failing to protect the rainforest from deforestation.
World’s leaders, industry, and all of us must do all we can to stop this tragedy
Swathes of the rainforest are being cut down for soy plantations, which serves as feed for cattle ranches.
Greenpeace warned the forest fires “fuel a vicious cycle” of greenhouse gas emissions affecting the number of fires and rising global temperatures.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) argued the Amazon is a key “ally in fighting the climate crisis”.
Professor Antonelli said: “There will be far-reaching effects on the region’s ecosystem, likely leading to the conversion of rainforest into land for the production of soya and meat.
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“This is a matter of deep concern for all people but as a Brazilian citizen I feel particularly troubled.
“The so-far unsubstantiated allegations that these fires are being caused by NGOs – whose crucial work in conversation cannot be understated – provide nothing but a distraction from factual evidence.”
President Bolsonaro deflected criticism of his handling of the situation by suggesting the fires were caused by NGOs, farmers and indigenous Amazon tribes.
An estimated one million indigenous people live in the Amazon rainforest.
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Amazon rainforest fires: The rainforest is the most biodiverse place on Earth (Image: GETTY)
Amazon rainforest fires: The smoke from the fires is visible from space (Image: AFP/GETTY)
President Bolsonaro also noted Brazil does not have the funds needed to tackle such widespread fires.
He said on Thursday: “The Indians? Do you want me to blame the Indians? Do you want me to blame the Martians?
“Everyone is a suspect but the biggest suspect are NGOs.”
Conservation groups, however, believe Mr Bolsonaro has encouraged farmers and loggers to cleat the rainforest for new land.
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Professor Antonelli said: “Immediate action is necessary to extinguish the current fires and prevent future ones.
“And unfortunately, these fires are just another in a series of events leading to increased deforestation – including increased illegal and legal logging and armed conflicts with indigenous communities.
“The world’s leaders, industry, and all of us must do all we can to stop this tragedy.
“Import sanctions of Brazilian produce to decrease demand, consumer boycotts, and soft power provide perfectly legal and demonstrably powerful tools to trigger change.”
