Deforestation of Brazil

Satellite images suggest that deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon rain forest has shot up since Jair Bolsonaro became president in January, despite his claim on Friday that the data “lies”.  More than 3700 square kilometres of forest has been deforested this year, an area about a fifth the size of Wales, preliminary satellite data indicates.

Indigenous people from the Mura tribe walk in a deforested area in non-demarcated indigenous land.  Leader Raimundo Praia Belem Mura, a 73 year old, has lived on the land his entire life and has vowed to fight to the bitter end.  "For this forest, I will go on until my last drop of blood" he said.

 Indigenous people from the Mura tribe show a deforested area in unmarked indigenous lands inside the Amazon rainforest near Humaita, Amazonas State, Brazil, 20 August 2019.  Member of Brazil's Mura indigenous tribe painted their bodies with orange - red paint and took up long bows and clubs as they headed into the jungle this week, prepared for battle.  Their enemy?  The deforestation and destruction of their home, the Amazon rainforest.

An aerial view of logs illegally cut from Amazon rainforest are seen in sawmills near Humaita, Amazonas State, Brazil.