The Amazon rainforest in Brazil experienced a historic record of fires in 2024, the highest in 17 years, according to government data.
The vast biome faced months of prolonged drought, exacerbating conditions for forest fires.
Alarming data from INPE on the historic record of fires
According to the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), satellite images detected 140,328 fires during 2024, a 42% increase compared to the 98,634 recorded in 2023, and the highest number since 2007, when 186,463 forest fires were recorded.
However, there were indications that the total deforested area could be the lowest in years.
Decrease in deforestation
In early November, INPE reported that deforestation in the region in the 12 months up to August 2024 had decreased by over 30%, reaching the lowest amount in nine years.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has made the preservation of the Amazon a priority for his government, which will host the UN COP30 climate conference in Belém in November.
Impact of drought and climate change
The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service of the EU reminded that in 2024 a severe drought fueled forest fires in South America. Dense smoke columns covered cities like Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, and Sao Paulo, with persistent pollution for several weeks.
The drought, driven by climate change and the El Niño phenomenon, helped create the conditions for the wave of fires. Experts point out that most fires were deliberately set to clear land for agriculture.
Risk for the future of the Amazon
Scientists warn that ongoing deforestation will put the Amazon on a path towards a critical point where it will emit more carbon than it absorbs, accelerating climate change.
Preserving the Amazon is crucial to mitigate climate change and protect one of the world’s most important ecosystems.
Have you visited our YouTube channel yet? Subscribe now!
