Amazon Continues to Burn in 2020, Even after Promises to Save It
2020-08-23
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1One year ago, Brazilian officials discovered a fire burning in the forest around the town of Novo Progresso.
2It was the first big blaze in the Amazon's dry season.
3In the weeks that followed, more than 100,000 other fires were reported in the area.
4Those fires fueled anger about the government's inability or unwillingness to protect the Amazon rainforest.
5This year, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro promised to control the burning.
6Usually, local farmers set fires to clear land.
7Bolsonaro banned fires for four months and deployed army troops to fight or prevent more blazes.
8But this week the smoke is so thick around Novo Progresso that police have said people driving motor vehicles have crashed because they cannot see.
9Bolsonaro has been an active supporter of bringing more farming to the Amazon.
10The latest burning season could show if he is willing or able to stop the fires.
11Observers say the fires are pushing the world's largest rainforest toward a major crisis.
12If there are many more fires, the Amazon will no longer be able to produce enough rainfall to sustain itself.
13That means about 65 percent of the forest will begin turning into tropical savanna or grassland.
14But people in Novo Progresso, like businessman Claudio Herculano, believe the town has only grown because of increased farming in the area.
15"It pains anyone to breathe this air," Herculano said this week.
16"But all the people here are looking for better days."
17Bolsonaro has sent mixed messages: He approved an army-led operation to fight Amazon destruction in May.
18Yet this month he denied the trees can catch fire.
19Recently, at a meeting of South American leaders, he noted a decrease in July deforestation numbers.
20But he failed to say it was the third highest reading for any month since 2015.
21"[The] story that the Amazon is burning is a lie," he claimed.
22This year, one could see more fires than last, said Paulo Barreto.
23He is a deforestation researcher at environmental group Imazon.
24In July, as the Amazon's dry season began, many trees had been cut down, increasing deforestation by 34 percent.
25That information comes from Brazil's space agency.
26Normally, after trees are cut, the next step is burning the land, which is usually done without the government's required approval.
27August and September are when the burning usually increases.
28In the first half of August, satellites found 19,000 fires across Brazil's Amazon.
29If this continues, the number of fires would be similar to those reported last August, when Brazil was criticized internationally.
30In 2019, some European heads of state threatened Bolsonaro and said they would suspend financing for rainforest protection efforts.
31Some European Union lawmakers threatened to refuse to sign the free-trade deal Brazil spent nearly 20 years negotiating.
32Bolsonaro sent the Army to help put out the fires - and the criticism -- in late August 2019.
33There was also a federal police investigation into what became known as the Day of Fire, when several fires were set.
34Police are still trying to find out if a group of ranchers used the messaging app WhatsApp to set different fires at different times.
35The investigation has been extended.
36Joaquim da Silva is a rancher in Novo Progresso.
37He says the problem is that many people do not really own the land they use.
38That makes it easier for them to avoid punishment.
39The Amazon has lost about 17 percent of its original area.
40If nothing changes, it will reach a crisis in the next 15 to 30 years, says Carlos Nobre, a leading climatologist.
41As the forest breaks down, it will release hundreds of billions of tons of carbon dioxide into the air.
42Nobre added signs of change are showing.
43It is hotter and the dry season is now four months long, not the traditional three months.
44I'm Susan Shand.
1One year ago, Brazilian officials discovered a fire burning in the forest around the town of Novo Progresso. It was the first big blaze in the Amazon's dry season. 2In the weeks that followed, more than 100,000 other fires were reported in the area. Those fires fueled anger about the government's inability or unwillingness to protect the Amazon rainforest. 3This year, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro promised to control the burning. Usually, local farmers set fires to clear land. Bolsonaro banned fires for four months and deployed army troops to fight or prevent more blazes. 4But this week the smoke is so thick around Novo Progresso that police have said people driving motor vehicles have crashed because they cannot see. 5Bolsonaro has been an active supporter of bringing more farming to the Amazon. The latest burning season could show if he is willing or able to stop the fires. 6Observers say the fires are pushing the world's largest rainforest toward a major crisis. If there are many more fires, the Amazon will no longer be able to produce enough rainfall to sustain itself. That means about 65 percent of the forest will begin turning into tropical savanna or grassland. 7But people in Novo Progresso, like businessman Claudio Herculano, believe the town has only grown because of increased farming in the area. 8"It pains anyone to breathe this air," Herculano said this week. "But all the people here are looking for better days." 9Bolsonaro has sent mixed messages: He approved an army-led operation to fight Amazon destruction in May. Yet this month he denied the trees can catch fire. Recently, at a meeting of South American leaders, he noted a decrease in July deforestation numbers. But he failed to say it was the third highest reading for any month since 2015. 10"[The] story that the Amazon is burning is a lie," he claimed. 11This year, one could see more fires than last, said Paulo Barreto. He is a deforestation researcher at environmental group Imazon. 12In July, as the Amazon's dry season began, many trees had been cut down, increasing deforestation by 34 percent. That information comes from Brazil's space agency. 13Normally, after trees are cut, the next step is burning the land, which is usually done without the government's required approval. 14August and September are when the burning usually increases. In the first half of August, satellites found 19,000 fires across Brazil's Amazon. If this continues, the number of fires would be similar to those reported last August, when Brazil was criticized internationally. 15In 2019, some European heads of state threatened Bolsonaro and said they would suspend financing for rainforest protection efforts. Some European Union lawmakers threatened to refuse to sign the free-trade deal Brazil spent nearly 20 years negotiating. 16Bolsonaro sent the Army to help put out the fires - and the criticism -- in late August 2019. 17There was also a federal police investigation into what became known as the Day of Fire, when several fires were set. Police are still trying to find out if a group of ranchers used the messaging app WhatsApp to set different fires at different times. The investigation has been extended. 18Joaquim da Silva is a rancher in Novo Progresso. He says the problem is that many people do not really own the land they use. That makes it easier for them to avoid punishment. 19The Amazon has lost about 17 percent of its original area. If nothing changes, it will reach a crisis in the next 15 to 30 years, says Carlos Nobre, a leading climatologist. As the forest breaks down, it will release hundreds of billions of tons of carbon dioxide into the air. 20Nobre added signs of change are showing. It is hotter and the dry season is now four months long, not the traditional three months. 21I'm Susan Shand. 22The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 23_________________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25blaze- n.a fire 26sustain- v.to help stay alive 27rancher- n.someone who owns or operates a ranch or farm 28original- adj. actual; real or true 29climatologist - n.an expert on climate issues