Rio de Janeiro - Brazil's environment minister said on Tuesday data showing surging deforestation in the Amazon was "sensationalist," as the government faces scrutiny over destruction of the rainforest seen as vital to combating climate change.
Around
2,254 square kilometers (870 square miles) of the Amazon were cleared in July,
an increase of 278 percent from a year ago, according to the embattled National
Institute for Space Research (INPE).
That
follows a 90 percent increase in June compared to the year prior -- figures
far-right President Jair Bolsonaro has called "lies" and which
prompted Friday's sacking of INPE chief Ricardo Galvao.
The
rapid rise in deforestation has triggered a global outcry and threatens to
create problems for the recent free trade agreement between the South American
Mercosur trade bloc, which includes Brazil and the European Union.
The
Amazon is vital to the exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere --
a check on global warming.
But
Environment Minister Ricardo Salles said Wednesday that the INPE data was
published in a way that satisfied "sensationalist interpretations"
and was aimed at getting "more donations from foreign NGOs".
While
the government admits deforestation has increased, it insists it is not as
great as indicated by INPE, an agency of international repute.
The
government's rejection of the figures and sacking of Galvao, who has been
replaced by a military official, has angered environmental groups.
"The
government is fighting with the numbers, trying to change the reality of what
is happening in the forest," said Carlos Rittl, director of the Brazilian
Climate Observatory.
Since
taking power in January, Bolsonaro has been accused of harming the Amazon and
indigenous tribes in order to benefit his supporters in the logging, mining and
farming industries.
The
front cover of last week's Economist magazine declared "Deathwatch for the
Amazon," warning the forest was "perilously close to a tipping
point."
European
leaders have been vocal in their criticism of the government's environmental
policies.
But
Salles said he would show "what Brazil really is" when he tours
Europe in September. He said the government has a "feasible plan" to
fight deforestation.
fecha |
Título |
16/12/2023| |
|
23/08/2023| |
|
28/06/2023| |
|
03/05/2023| |
|
20/04/2023| |
|
19/04/2023| |
|
11/04/2023| |
|
04/04/2023| |
|
10/03/2023| |
|
15/09/2022| |
|
15/09/2022| |
|
28/05/2021| |
|
27/05/2021| |
|
10/12/2020| |
|
20/11/2020| |
|
19/11/2020| |
|
10/10/2020| |
|
25/09/2020| |
|
18/09/2020| |
|
15/09/2020| |
|
25/08/2020| |
|
22/08/2020| |
|
22/07/2020| |
|
24/06/2020| |
|
11/06/2020| |
|
29/05/2020| |
|
26/05/2020| |
|
20/05/2020| |
|
13/05/2020| |
|
11/05/2020| |
|
10/05/2020| |
|
28/12/2019| |
|
25/12/2019| |
|
28/10/2019| |
|
05/10/2019| |
|
05/08/2019| |
|
31/07/2019| |
|
21/07/2019| |
|
04/07/2019| |
|
07/12/2018| |
|
20/11/2018| |
|
29/08/2018| |
|
18/08/2018| |
|
15/08/2018| |
|
11/08/2018| |
|
25/07/2018| |
|
20/07/2018| |
|
13/07/2018| |
|
08/07/2018| |
|
22/06/2018| |
|
17/03/2018| |
|
11/03/2018| |
|
10/03/2018| |
|
04/02/2018| |
|
02/02/2018| |
|
10/05/2017| |
|
02/12/2016| |
|
13/09/2016| |
|
13/12/2015| |
|
20/03/2015| |
|
28/02/2015| |
|
15/01/2015| |
|
05/09/2014| |
|
27/08/2014| |
|
21/08/2014| |
|
09/08/2014| |
|
21/03/2014| |
|
20/03/2014| |
|
11/03/2014| |
|
29/12/2013| |
|
18/05/2013| |
|
18/05/2013| |
|
08/05/2013| |
|
07/05/2013| |
|
09/03/2013| |
|
22/02/2013| |
|
13/12/2012| |
|
25/11/2012| |
|
18/07/2012| |
|
03/07/2012| |
|
25/06/2012| |
|
14/05/2012| |
|
04/03/2012| |
|
04/03/2012| |
|
03/11/2011| |
|
01/11/2011| |
|
14/10/2011| |
|
06/10/2011| |
|
15/09/2011| |
|
10/09/2011| |
|
08/09/2011| |
|
08/09/2011| |
|
05/09/2011| |
|
05/09/2011| |
|
25/08/2011| |
|
25/08/2011| |
|
13/08/2011| |
|
11/08/2011| |
|
10/08/2011| |
|
29/07/2011| |
|
20/07/2011| |
|
20/07/2011| |
|
17/06/2011| |
|
17/06/2011| |
|
15/05/2011| |
|
15/05/2011| |
|
06/05/2011| |
|
06/05/2011| |
|
23/03/2011| |
|
20/02/2011| |
|
13/02/2011| |
|
27/01/2011| |
|
23/12/2010| |
|
23/12/2010| |
|
15/12/2010| |
|
22/11/2010| |
|
05/10/2010| |
|
03/10/2010| |
|
01/10/2010| |
|
02/09/2010| |
|
02/09/2010| |
|
26/08/2010| |
|
26/08/2010| |
|
25/08/2010| |
|
25/08/2010| |
|
21/08/2010| |
|
21/08/2010| |
|
19/08/2010| |
|
19/08/2010| |
|
24/06/2010| |
|
24/06/2010| |
|
24/05/2010| |
|
19/02/2010| |
|
01/02/2010| |
|
29/01/2010| |
|
27/01/2010| |
|
28/08/2009| |
|
19/02/2009| |
|
28/09/2008| |
|
28/09/2008| |
|
27/08/2008| |
|
27/08/2008| |
|
11/07/2008| |
|
11/07/2008| |
|
11/07/2008| |
|
11/07/2008| |
|
07/02/2008| |
|
13/10/2007| |
|
16/09/2007| |
|
20/05/2007| |
|
20/05/2007| |
|
02/05/2007| |
|
02/05/2007| |
|
07/03/2007| |
|
07/03/2007| |
|
12/12/2006| |
|
12/12/2006| |
|