Amazon Deforestation Increased Fifteen Percent in Twelve Months, Says Independent Institute

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL –  Deforestation in “Legal Amazonia” has increased fifteen percent in the last twelve months, when compared to the previous period, writes G1 news site in its latest report.

The data is from the Deforestation Alert System (SAD) of the Amazonian Institute of People and the Environment (Imazon), which is not linked to the government. Calculated from August 2018 to July 2019, the deforested area totaled 5,054 km².

The Legal Amazonia area, defined by statute, covers all of six states: Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia, and Roraima, and part of the states of Maranhão, Mato Grosso, and Tocantins.

While the term “deforestation” refers to the complete removal of vegetation (the so-called “shallow cut”), the word “degradation” refers to a decrease in vegetation cover or a “thinning” of forests.

Degradation is usually caused by logging or burning. According to Imazon, the degraded forest areas in July 2019 covered 135 km², which represents a reduction of 62 percent compared to July 2018, when they totaled 356 km².

(Source: G1)