Draft:Amazon Fires

The Amazon Fires

Previous articles on The Amazon Fires 2019 Amazon rainforest wildfires 2020 Brazil rainforest wildfires 2023–2024 South American drought Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest 2024 Brazil wildfires 2024 South American wildfires In 2024, the Amazon Rainforest experienced its most devastating fire season in two decades, with over 62,000 square kilometres affected. These fires come from and have significant environmental, social, and economic impacts, touching not only the vast biodiversity of the region but also the lives of its local and Indigenous communities.

Geo-political Area of The Amazon

The Amazon Rainforest is the world's largest tropical rainforest, enveloping approximately 6.7 million square kilometres. Its vast expanse touches multiple countries, harbouring a portion of this biodiversity powerhouse. Here is how the Amazon distributed among the countries:

Brazil holds about 60% of the Amazon, roughly 4.02 million square kilometres.

Peru has about 13% of the rainforest in its territory, or approximately 870,000 square kilometres.

Colombia is home to around 10% of the Amazon, approximately 670,000 square kilometres.

Venezuela contains about 6% or 402,000 square kilometres.

Bolivia accounts for approximately 6% of the Amazon, around 402,000 square kilometres.

Ecuador holds about 2% of the rainforest, roughly 134,000 square kilometres.

Guyana has about 3% of the Amazon territory, around 201,000 square kilometres.

Suriname holds roughly 2% or about 134,000 square kilometres.

French Guiana (France)holds about 1%, approximately 67,000 square kilometres.

Major Fires Over The Years in The Amazon

Amazon fires have impacted different countries over the years. This list focuses on key incidents where fires were particularly destructive or governmental and environmental policies significantly influenced fire activity.

Here is a brief rundown of country-specific issues related to Amazon fires:

Brazil

Major Fires Years

• 1987: One of the first widespread fire events widely covered by international media, serving as a wake-up call about the risks of large-scale deforestation.
• 1997-1998: A severe El Niño event exacerbated drought conditions, leading to fires that burned uncontrollably. These fires brought global attention to the Amazon, highlighting the effects of climate variability on fire frequency and intensity.
• 2005: A significant drought, a "once-in-a-century" event, resulted in extensive fires that devastated large rainforest areas, prompting discussions about climate change's impact on tropical forests.
• 2010: Another intense drought year, fires were particularly destructive, further stressing the Amazon's resilience and leading to increased public and scientific concern.
• 2015: Continued patterns of drought linked to climate change, coupled with ongoing deforestation, led to another significant year of fires, underscoring the ongoing vulnerability of the Amazon.
• 2019: Marked by political shifts and regulatory rollbacks on environmental protections under the government of President Jair Bolsonaro, this year saw unprecedented fires that sparked international outcry and calls for action to protect the Amazon.

Fires in 2024

The 2024 fire season in Brazil began unusually early and with significant intensity, highlighted by events captured through NASA's satellite observations.

Early Start and Intense Activity: The fire season kicked off in February with substantial fire activity in Roraima, a northern state of Brazil, as observed by NASA satellites. This early start continued with severe blazes in May and June in Mato Grosso do Sul due to drought, affecting the Pantanal, one of the world's largest wetlands.

July Surge in Amazon Fires: By July, the fire situation escalated within the Amazon Rainforest, which traditionally starts its fire season in this month. NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite captured extensive smoke and fires over the states of Amazonas and Pará on August 4, 2024.

Deforestation and Fire Dynamics: Many fires were associated with deforestation efforts, where land cleared of trees during the wetter months is then burned in the dry season to manage remaining vegetation. This action is often done to prepare the land for agricultural uses like cattle ranching and crop production.

Record Fire Detections in Amazonas: In July 2024, the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) recorded unprecedented fires in Amazonas, the highest for any July since their records began in 1998. This surge was part of a broader trend of increasing fire activity in the Brazilian Amazon during the first eight months of 2024, with almost double the number of fires detected compared to the same period in 2023.

Climatic Influences: The severe drought conditions contributing to the fire susceptibility in the Amazon Basin have been exacerbated by El Niño, which lasted from May 2023 to May 2024. This event shifted rainfall patterns and, combined with human-induced global warming, created ideal conditions for fires to start and spread.

Emissions and Environmental Impact: The carbon emissions from the fires in the Amazon and Pantanal up to 2024 were the highest recorded since 2005. These observations were tracked by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts' Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS).

Issues and Contributing Factors

Deforestation and Economic Pressures: Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is primarily driven by agriculture and mining, sectors that significantly impact the region's ecological balance. Land is often cleared through slash-and-burn methods, a practice regulated ostensibly but frequently exceeding legal bounds due to weak enforcement. This method of land preparation is deeply intertwined with the economic incentives associated with cattle ranching and soybean cultivation, which offer substantial economic benefits but pose severe challenges to forest conservation.

The expansion of these agricultural frontiers continues to drive significant environmental degradation, including the loss of biodiversity and increased greenhouse gas emissions. These economic activities not only contribute to continuous cycles of land clearing but also complicate the implementation of sustainable fire management and environmental policies. The pressures for expanding agricultural land, coupled with the lucrative gains from mining, exacerbate the complexity of managing land sustainably and enforcing environmental protections.

Political Influence: Environmental policies and their enforcement have fluctuated significantly with Brazil's political climate, often correlating with periods of intense fires. Reduced regulatory oversight and increased incentives for land clearing during certain administrations highlight the political challenges in managing fire risks effectively.

Climate Change: Increasingly severe and frequent droughts, exacerbated by global climatic changes, heighten the fire risks in the region. These climatic factors, coupled with human-induced changes, underscore the broader environmental challenges impacting the Amazon.

Peru

Major Fire Years

• 2010 and 2015 Droughts: These years were marked by severe drought conditions, which are attributed to global climate phenomena such as El Niño. The dry conditions significantly heightened fire susceptibility in Peru's portion of the Amazon, leading to numerous fires that were difficult to control and extinguish.

Issues and Contributing Factors

• Expansion of Agriculture: As in other parts of the Amazon, agricultural expansion in Peru often involves clearing forest land. This is usually done by slash-and-burn techniques, which can escape control under dry conditions and lead to widespread fires.
• Illegal Mining Activities: Illegal mining, particularly for gold, is a major problem in the Peruvian Amazon. The deforestation and land disturbance caused by such mining activities create ideal conditions for fires. The removal of vegetation reduces the land's natural moisture retention, making it more prone to catching fire.

Implications and Forward-Looking Statements

The ongoing issues of agricultural expansion and illegal mining underscore the need for enhanced regulatory frameworks in Peru to manage land use and reduce fire risks. Strategies may include stricter enforcement of existing laws, the implementation of more robust fire management and prevention programs, and international cooperation to address transboundary environmental impacts.

Colombia

• Significant Fire Years: Less frequent but notable during regional droughts.
• Issues: Conflict between land use for agriculture and drug cultivation areas, impacting enforcement and management.

Bolivia

• Significant Fire Years: Significant fires in 2010, 2019 and 2024.
• Issues: Similar to Brazil, extensive agricultural deforestation, particularly under changing governmental policies.

Venezuela, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana

• Issues: These countries have fewer fires than the larger Amazon nations, but they still face pressures from illegal logging and mining, which can lead to fires.