Brazil Deforestation On The Rise

by Heather

Brazil’s new Environment Minister Carlos Minc says that illegal logging in the Amazon is on the rise.

The National Space Institute is expected to release their calculations on how much of the rainforest has been razed on Monday.

Minc said in a recent interview “It will be bad news. It will be data showing an increase in deforestation.”

For the last three years deforestation has been down, but this year a preliminary satellite detected a spike in trees gone missing. In response, several agencies were sent to stop the illegal activities. Environmental agencies and police units shut down dozens of illegal sawmills and seized over 15,000 tons of illegally logged wood.

The Amazon accounts for 1.6 million square miles in Brazil, or roughly 60% of the country. According to reports as much as 20% of this has already been razed.

Even though I’ve never been to Brazil, the change in their landscape is something that should concern everyone. The Amazon Rain Forest is home to thousands of insects, plants, birds and mammals - and even more species of trees. If deforestation continues at a high rate, it won’t be long before all these living things lose their environment and their lives.

Now that is in the hands of Carlos Minc and his people.. Hopefully they’ll be able to make a difference and stop these illegal razings of trees from happening.