RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The Brazilian state of Roraima in the Amazon rainforest has experienced a significant surge in fires during the month of February, with over 2,000 fires detected by satellite sensors operated by the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). This data, released on Thursday, revealed a stark increase compared to the monthly average of 376 fires, marking the second-highest number recorded in a single month since data collection began in mid-1998.
The fires have resulted in widespread air pollution, affecting entire cities within the 200,000-square-kilometer state of Roraima. Smoke from the fires has also encroached upon the Yanomami Indigenous Territory, raising concerns about the impact on local communities and ecosystems.
Typically, fires in the Amazon region are intentionally set to clear land for agricultural purposes, such as creating cattle pastures or removing felled trees. However, these fires often spread uncontrollably, reaching untouched forest areas and exacerbating environmental damage.
Experts attribute the current situation to various factors, including the influence of El Niño, a natural climate phenomenon characterized by warming of parts of the Pacific Ocean, as well as the warming of northern tropical Atlantic waters. These conditions have likely contributed to the heightened risk of fires in the region.
In response to the escalating threat of forest fires, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva recently declared a state of environmental emergency in several affected regions. This declaration aims to streamline administrative processes, enabling authorities to take swift action in addressing the crisis, such as expediting hiring procedures and extending contracts without the usual bureaucratic delays.
The Amazon region faced severe challenges last year due to a historic drought, with eight Brazilian states experiencing the lowest rainfall levels in over four decades during the July-September period. The combination of ongoing environmental pressures and climatic factors underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts to protect the Amazon rainforest and its diverse ecosystems.
