Deforestation In The Brazilian Amazon Forest Highest In 15 Years

August 2, 2022

1 min read

Deforestation In The Brazilian Amazon Forest Highest In 15 Years

The Brazilian Amazon experienced its highest rate of deforestation in 15 years during the first half of 2022, according to data from Brazil’s space agency INPE. The alarming trend threatens biodiversity and accelerates climate change.

InPE Satellite Data Reveals the Scale

Between January and June 2022, the Amazon lost 7,485 square kilometers of forest cover — a 17% increase compared to the same period in 2021. The DETER monitoring system, which tracks near-real-time deforestation, indicates that the primary drivers are illegal logging and agricultural expansion, particularly for cattle ranching and soy cultivation.

Biodiversity at Risk

The Amazon rainforest is home to approximately 10% of all known species on Earth. A study by the University of California, Berkeley, published in Science Advances, warns that continued deforestation at current rates could push 100 mammal species toward extinction by 2030. Indigenous territories, which have historically shown lower deforestation rates, are increasingly threatened by illegal land grabbing.

Climate Feedback Loops

Research from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research demonstrates that Amazon deforestation reduces regional rainfall, creating a feedback loop that can transition parts of the forest to savanna. This “tipping point” effect could release up to 120 billion tons of stored carbon, significantly accelerating global warming.

Policy Response Under Scrutiny

The Brazilian federal government’s environmental enforcement budget was cut by 28% in 2022, according to the Center for International Forestry Research. Environmental NGOs have called for international pressure to restore funding for Ibama, Brazil’s environmental agency.

Global Implications

The Amazon functions as a carbon sink, absorbing approximately 2 billion tons of CO2 annually. Its degradation undermines global climate mitigation efforts and affects weather patterns as far as the Midwest United States.

For more on climate impacts: China’s EV revolution and Australia’s clean energy innovation.

Krutika Surana

Krutika Surana is currently pursuing masters degree in mass communication and journalism from Amity University Mumbai. Her interests are Investigations, Reporting, Politics etc.

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Deforestation In The Brazilian Amazon Forest Highest In 15 Years