Brazil’s Amazon: Deforestation ‘Surges to 12-Year High’

In Brazil, deforestation of the Amazon rainforest has risen to its highest level since 2008, reports the country's space agency (Inpe).

Between August 2019 and July 2020, a total of 11,088 sq km (4,281 sq miles) of rainforest was destroyed. This is a rise of 9.5 percent from the year before, reports BBC.

The Amazon is a vital carbon store that slows down the pace of global warming.

Scientists say it has suffered losses at an accelerated rate since Jair Bolsonaro took office in January 2019.

The Brazilian president has encouraged agriculture and mining activities in the world's largest rainforest.

Around three million species of plants and animals and one million indigenous people live in the Amazon.

From the 7,536 sq km declared by Inpe in 2018 - the year before Mr. Bolsonaro took office - the latest data represented a substantial increase.

The new figures are preliminary, with the official statistics set to be released early next year.

Brazil had set a goal of slowing the pace of deforestation to 3,900 sq km annually by 2020.

In addition to supporting rainforest growth, President Bolsonaro has also reduced funding for federal agencies that have the power to fine and prosecute farmers and loggers in violation of environmental legislation.

Mr Bolsonaro has previously fought over his deforestation data with Inpe. He accused the organization last year of smearing the image of Brazil.

"reflect the result of a successful initiative to annihilate the capacity of the Brazilian State and the inspection bodies to take care of our forests and fight crime in the Amazon"reflect the outcome of a successful initiative to annihilate the capacity of the Brazilian State and the inspection bodies to take care of our forests and tackle Amazonian crime.

But the fact that the rate of increase was lower than that reported last year was a sign of improvement, some officials said.

"While we are not here to celebrate this, it does signify that the efforts we are making are beginning to bear fruit," Vice-President Hamilton Mourão told reporters.