In a surprising turn of events, deforestation in Brazil's Amazon saw a significant rise in July, breaking a streak of declining destruction that had spanned over 15 months under the leadership of President Luiz Inacio da Silva. Preliminary data released by the government's space research agency, Inpe, revealed that approximately 572 square km of the rainforest had been cleared in just the first 26 days of the month. This figure marked a 14% increase compared to the total deforestation recorded in July of the previous year.
A joint press conference by the Environment Ministry and the Science Ministry was scheduled later to unveil the comprehensive data for the entire month of July. Despite this increase in deforestation levels, it is noteworthy that the current rates under President Lula remain significantly lower than those seen during the tenure of his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.
The recent spike in deforestation activity can be attributed in part to an ongoing strike by environmental workers that commenced in June. This strike, led by the environmental workers union Ascema, has severely limited the enforcement of laws against deforestation, as both the federal environmental enforcement agency Ibama and the parks service Icmbio are involved.
Wallace Lopes, a prominent figure within the environmental workers' union, acknowledged the impact of the strike on the rise in deforestation figures, emphasizing the significant role played by the absence of enforcement measures during this period.
President Lula's office refrained from immediate comments when approached by Reuters, while the Environment Ministry maintained that they would reserve any remarks on the preliminary data for the upcoming press conference.
Since assuming office in January 2023, President Lula has been committed to halting deforestation by 2030, a stark contrast to the alarming levels of destruction witnessed during Bolsonaro's administration. This commitment serves as a cornerstone of Lula's efforts to restore Brazil's environmental reputation, as the Amazon plays a crucial role in absorbing greenhouse gases.
The data on rising deforestation comes amidst reports of numerous fires in Brazil's Amazon region, exacerbated by a prevailing drought linked to climate change. Notably, firefighting operations have continued unaffected by the ongoing strikes staged by environment workers, as the country braces for the peak of the fire season in August and September.