The Amazon rainforest is the largest rainforest on Earth. This broadleaf tropical jungle covers close to three million square miles across nine different countries in South America. The Amazon rainforest has had a long history of using deforestation to clear land for farming, building and the major sale of the native woods. Along with deforestation, there has been a more recent threat to this natural wonder: forest fires. In Brazil alone, there has been an 85 percent increase in the number of fires in the regions of the Amazon rainforest within Brazil’s borders, according to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research. Due to the climate of the region and the average rainfall, historically the Amazon has not been subjected to forest fires until recently with deforestation causing the ecosystem to be much drier. Many claim that the Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro, is responsible for the rapid increase in the rates of forest fires in the region. According to National Geographic, “since taking power at the beginning of the year, Bolsonaro has made it clear he prioritizes the interests of industries that want greater access to protected lands. His critics say he has emboldened ranchers and farmers to burn even more land by cutting back on law enforcement and signaling that his government will not impose fines for illegal land-grabbing.” Claims have been made that government assistance in stopping the spread of these fires has been hindered by Bolsonaro. According to the New York Times, “Hundreds of government workers on the front lines of enforcing Brazil’s environmental laws signed an open letter warning that their work has been hampered by President Jair Bolsonaro, contributing to a rise in deforestation and the fires sweeping through the Amazon.” These fires are not just contained to the forested regions of Brazil but have also spread as far as Argentina and Colombia. According to the Associated Press, “French President Emmanuel Macron called the wildfires an international crisis and said the leaders of the group of seven nations should hold urgent discussions about them at their summit in France.” Macron also tweeted saying that “Our house is burning. Literally. The Amazon rainforest— the lungs which produce 20 percent of our planet’s oxygen— is on fire.” These forest fires are endangering the lives of approximately one million indigenous people living in the Amazon basin. Advocacy groups, like Kanindé, are calling for help in these regions as well as speaking out against Bolsonaro, who they deem responsible.
