The news is currently marked by fires ravaging Amazonia, but also many areas of South America in recent months. Huge forest fires have increased in recent days, exacerbated by drought and deforestation.
For the Brazilian Space Research Institute (INPE), it is the equivalent of a soccer field that is destroyed every minute by the flames. The institute reports nearly 2,500 new fire starts in 48 hours across the country. According to the INPE, 75,336 forest fires have been recorded since the beginning of the year, 84% more than last year over the same period.
If Amazonia, lung of the earth is victim of these fires, it is generally all of South America that is concerned by this disaster. This is particularly the case in Bolivia and Paraguay, which are also facing these fires. The fires are mostly caused by slash and burn cultivation, aggravated by the lack of precipitation.
In addition to the terrible impact on the environment and forests, fires also cause potentially irreversible damage to wildlife in areas of endemic biodiversity. In addition, these burns, generate a strong atmospheric ozone pollution. Thus, the Brazilian megacity of Sao Polo found itself covered by a very dense smog.