Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon more than doubles since last year, official data shows
- The 563 square kilometres deforested in November is the highest number for any November since 2015
Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon in November surged by 104 per cent compared to the same month in 2018, according to official data released Saturday.
The 563 square kilometres (217 square miles) deforested that month is also the highest number for any November since 2015, according to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE), which provides official data on deforestation.
That is considered a significant increase, particularly during the rainy season, when deforestation generally slows.
For the first 11 months of the year – also the first months in office of Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right leader who has eased restrictions on exploiting the Amazon’s vast riches – deforestation totalled 8,974.3 square kilometres.
That is nearly twice the 4,878.7 square kilometres reported for the first 11 months of 2018.
The data was collected by the satellite-based DETER system, which monitors deforestation in real time.