This handout NASA Earth Observatory image obtained on 21 August 2019, captured by Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite shows several fires burning in the Brazilian states of Amazonas (top C-L), Para (top R), Mato Grosso (bottom R) and Rondonia (bottom C) on 11 August 2019, while Bolivia appears on the left bottom of the image. Photo: AFP/HO/NASA Earth Observatory/LAUREN DAUPHIN
The Amazon rainforest is on fire – Here’s why it matters
The Amazon rainforest has been ravaged by fires for weeks, with the amount of rainforest being destroyed equating to 1.5 soccer fields every minute of every day.
This handout NASA Earth Observatory image obtained on 21 August 2019, captured by Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite shows several fires burning in the Brazilian states of Amazonas (top C-L), Para (top R), Mato Grosso (bottom R) and Rondonia (bottom C) on 11 August 2019, while Bolivia appears on the left bottom of the image. Photo: AFP/HO/NASA Earth Observatory/LAUREN DAUPHIN
The fires in the Amazon have captured the imagination of the world, with politicians and Hollywood stars speaking out to bring awareness about the blaze raging out of control through Brazil.
The fires in the Amazon were one of the most popular topics on social media as the world came to grips with the sheer scale of the devastation.
As the Brazilian government spends it’s time pointing fingers the blaze continues, and experts warn that it could have severe and permanent consequences for climate change.
The Amazon rainforest is shrinking
The rainforest is often referred to as the lungs of the planet; as much as 20% of the earth’s oxygen is produced in the area. The rainforest covers an area of about 5.5 million square kilometres.
In addition, scientists estimate that the rainforest has shrunk by almost 17% in the last 50 years due to deforestation. The rain forest is home more than 2 000 species of animals, many of which can only be found in the area.
The rain forest, which crosses nine South American countries, has been under increasing pressure from mining and drilling operations as farmers clear land to farm livestock and crops.
Impact of the Amazon rainforest fires
The majority of the rain forest is situated in Brazil, which has borne the brunt of the fires. The smoke from the rainforest has caused flights to be cancelled and is visible thousands of kilometres away in major cities.
The Brazilian president has taken to Facebook and blamed the fires on local NGOs. According to President Bolsonaro, local NGOs are purposefully starting the fires in protest over cuts to their funding.
The WWF blamed this year’s sharp increase on accelerating deforestation in the Amazon, which is seen as crucial to keeping climate change in check.
Bolsonaro hit back Wednesday, saying “criminal action by those NGOs, to call attention against me, against the Brazilian government” following funding cuts may be the reason for the forest fires.
“This is the war that we are facing,” Bolsonaro told reporters. “The fires were lit in strategic places. All the indications suggest they went there to film and start fires. That’s what I feel.”
A wake-up call
It’s unclear if there’s any truth to these claims, but environmentalists all agree that the fires in the area are of enormous concern. In and of itself, it poses a considerable risk to wildlife and people living in their path.
Furthermore, it should be a wake-up call to lawmakers. Fires like these are symptomatic of problems caused by overpopulation and poor planning.
The importance of the rainforest is often overlooked in favour of short term profit, but if we fail to act to preserve this natural treasure, we could accelerate climate change and the problems that come with it.
Additional reporting by AFP.
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