Deforestation in the Amazon rose to record levels for the month of April, nearly doubling the area of forest removed in that month last year.
In the first 29 days of April, deforestation in the region totalled 1,012 square km according to data from the national space research agency Inpe. April is the third monthly record this year, after new highs were observed in January and February.
Deforestation in the Amazon has soared since rightwing president Jair Bolsonaro took office in 2019. He argues that more farming and mining in the Amazon will reduce poverty in the region.
Even with deforestation already increasing, the Brazilian advocacy group Climate Obervatory said its analysts were shocked by such a high reading in April, which is part of the rainy season when the muddy forest is harder for loggers to access.
Preservation of the Amazon is crucial to stopping catastrophic climate change because of the vast amount of climate-warming carbon dioxide it absorbs.