The fires in Brazil caused a loss of 2.7 billion dollars in the agricultural sector
The fires which took place in different regions Brazil generated between June and August of this year losses are estimated at 14,762 million reais (about $2,700 million) in it agricultural sectorthe employers’ association informed this Thursday.
Data about Confederation of Agriculture and Cattle Breeding of Brazil (CNA) suggest that The flames affected 2.8 million hectares of rural properties during that period,it only considers cattle and sugar cane activities“.
The greatest losses were recorded in the dedicated areas cattle grazing and to sugarcane cultivationwith a cumulative loss of 10.8 billion reais (nearly $2 billion).
The states most affected by the fires were São Paulo, Mato Grosso, Pará and Mato Grosso do SulThese last three areas are home to part of the Amazon or Pantanal, the largest wetland on the planet, which Brazil shares with Bolivia and Paraguay.
Flames spread rapidly in these areas as a result as well extreme drought Brazil suffered what authorities say was the worst since 1950.
In the Amazon, the largest rainforest on the planet, the water crisis has left several rivers at their lowest levels on record and isolated dozens of rural communities dependent on river transport.
In total, The Brazilian Amazon added 63,189 fire outbreaks from January to August this yearhe double the number registered in the same period in 2023.
The Brazilian government suspects that the vast majority of fires are caused human actionthe situation that the Minister of the Environment, Marina Silvadescribed as “climate terrorism“.
The executive has authorized the temporary use of the army, navy and air force to fight wildfires in the Amazon, which has not calmed criticism from the opposition and the press for delays in confronting this climate crisis.
Authorities and Indigenous Peoples Holy Crossthe most populous region and economic engine Boliviathey asked The government of Luis Arca which declares “national disaster“from forest fires whereas more resources and international assistance are needed.
acting governor of Santa Cruz, Mario Aguileratold the media that “a national disaster should be declared” because despite support from countries like Spain, Brazil, Chile, France or Canadaaction is required”more powerfulagainst fires.
“This is a situation that needs a definitive solution and the only way to do that is through much more forceful action with the presence of specialists, equipment and supplies necessary to deal with it. Therefore, a request to declare a national disaster will be formally made,” he said.
Aguilera recalled that a “disaster” in the resort had already been declared in Holy Cross at the beginning of the month due to exceeding regional capacities.
Added to the resource constraints were factors such as winds and topography that made access to some areas difficult, so the governor insisted that they needed machinery, e.g. generate “strong enough” firewalls.
(With information from EFE)
