A report by a Brazilian government agency says the rate of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest is at its highest in more than a decade.
The National Institute for Space Research said Monday that deforestation between August 2018 and July 2019 reached 9,762 square kilometres (3,769 square miles), a 30 per cent increase over the previous year and the most since 2008.
Concern about the Amazon heightened after President Jair Bolsonaro took office in January. He advocates the loosening of protections for natural reserves and indigenous lands as a way to promote economic development.
![Click to play video: 'Brazilian farmers say they’re fighting losing battle against Amazon fires'](https://i2.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/auyo4fjsw3-upxc95bnpe/amazon2.jpg?w=1040&quality=70&strip=all)
Fires in the Amazon spread at a pace unseen since 2010 in July and August, then slowed in September.
Environment ministry officials say they will meet the Amazon region’s governors Thursday to discuss ways to reduce deforestation.
- What is CrowdStrike? How a cybersecurity update caused a global tech outage
- CrowdStrike outage: Canadian flights, health care disrupted after faulty update
- Wildfire near Spences Bridge sparks ‘tactical evacuations,’ new fires flare in Kootenays
- Vancouver team caring for 2nd orphan sea otter pup found near Tofino
Comments