Good morning! Today, the latest deforestation data from the Bolsonaro government. The 2022 Census creates problems for hundreds of municipalities. And sanitation woes.
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The final deforestation data of the Bolsonaro era
The Amazon rainforest lost over 218 square kilometers of vegetation in December 2022, the last month of the Jair Bolsonaro era. The data comes from the National Institute of Space Research. It is the highest December mark during the Bolsonaro years and the third-highest on record (trailing only December 2015).
- Deforestation is typically more prevalent in the middle of the year, as the Amazonian dry season makes it easier for criminals to set fire to areas to be cleared. Having such a rise in destruction during the rainy season in December is surprising.
Why it matters. The figures underscore findings by climate watchdog Observatório do Clima, which showed that Mr. Bolsonaro oversaw the highest percentage increase in deforestation of any president since the beginning of measurements by satellite, in 1988.
Legacy. Recent official data showed that deforestation increased by almost...