Hey there, eco-warriors! 🌿 We've got some great news coming straight from the heart of the Amazon rainforest! Brazil's government just announced that deforestation fell by a stunning 30% this February compared to the same month last year. 🎉
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's team is stepping up, working hard to fulfill a promise to end illegal deforestation by 2030. According to preliminary satellite data from the space research agency INPE, about 226 square kilometers (87 square miles) of the rainforest were cleared last month. 🛰️
Now, while that's still a chunk of forest the size of a small city, it's a big improvement from the record 322 square kilometers lost in February last year. However, it's worth noting that this figure is still above the nine-year average of 173 square kilometers for the month. 🌧️ Keep in mind though, early-year satellite data can be a bit hazy (literally) due to heavy cloud cover over the lush canopy!
But it's not all sunshine and rainbows. February saw a sharp spike in wildfires in Roraima, Brazil's northernmost state, posing a threat to Indigenous communities in the already crisis-hit Yanomami territory. 🔥🌍
Mariana Napolitano, strategy director at WWF-Brasil, shared some insights: \"We must be especially careful interpreting data from January and February, but the trend is still the same we had been seeing in 2023: a drop in Amazon deforestation, an increase in Cerrado deforestation.\" 🌾 The Cerrado, one of the world's most biodiverse savannas, is now facing rising threats.
So, what's the takeaway? While we're making strides in protecting the Amazon, there's still work to be done! Let's keep pushing for a greener future and stand up for all of Brazil's incredible ecosystems. Together, we can make a difference! 💚🌎
Reference(s):
Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon down 30 percent in February
cgtn.com
