Causes and consequences of Amazon fires and deforestation

Brazil is a home to the Amazon & Pantanal, both are on fire. But Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro wants credit for preserving the environment.

Bolsonaro lauds himself for 'preserving environment' amid wildfires continues across Brazil

The number of fires in Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands nearly doubled in the first half of 2020, compared to the same period last year

Number of fires increases in Brazil's Pantanal wetland in 21 years

The fires that burned through the Amazon rainforest last month sparked international outcry and offers of help, but as world leaders meet in New York, the planet's largest rainforest remains engulfed in flames.

The latest satellite data from Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) shows 131,600 fires burning since January within the country, where 60 per cent of the Amazon lies.

The fires, which are mostly caused by humans with the goal of clearing land for farming and cattle ranching, are having a grievous effect on the forest: the rate of deforestation in the Amazon has nearly doubled since far-right President Jair Bolsonaro came to power on January 1, with the equivalent of 110 football fields of land being cleared every hour.

"It's sad to see Brazilians attacking me for fires in the Amazon as if they hadn't always existed," Bolsonaro wrote on Facebook Thursday.

We "remain below the average of the last 15 years. But I'm accused of being a Nero, who sets fires everywhere."

Yet fires are at a seven-year high, according to INPE data, and despite a slight drop at the start of the month, the number of active fires recorded in Brazil from the start of the year to September 19 was up 56 per cent over the same period in 2018. Nearly half of the blazes are in the Amazon.

Bolsonaro is a climate change sceptic, but last month he sent soldiers to help put out fires in the Amazon region after Brazil came under criticism at the G7 summit, with the host French President Emmanuel Macron among the most outspoken detractors.

Under that deployment, which was renewed Friday for another month, nearly 7,000 soldiers and 16 aircraft are fighting both the flames and "deforestation and illegal mining," Brazil's defence ministry said.

'I'm going to get hit'

Marcio Astrini, a Greenpeace official in Brazil, said the deployment is making little difference.

"We did a lot of fly-overs. We did not see anything happening on the ground, apart from the deforestation that is progressing. It's tragic," he told AFP.

Experts sent by the United States, logistical equipment from Japan, and four aircraft from Chile are all fighting the blazes, while firefighters sent from Israel have departed, the defence ministry said.

Bolsonaro, however, has blanched at other international offers to help put out the fires, rejecting $20 million from the G7 and accusing members France and Germany of "buying" Brazil's sovereignty.

On Monday, Macron will launch a "call for mobilization" on the Amazon together with his counterparts Sebastian Pinera of Chile and Ivan Duque of Colombia during a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Brazil won't attend the meeting, but Environment Minister Ricardo Salles, also a climate change sceptic, will appear at the UN's climate summit on Monday, before travelling to Europe.

On Tuesday, Bolsonaro will make the opening speech at the UN General Assembly, in which he is expected to focus on the Amazon.

"I am preparing a rather objective speech, unlike my predecessor," he wrote on Facebook, adding, "I'm going to get hit, you can be sure. The media always finds something to complain about."

No end in sight

Environmental groups have little faith that Bolsonaro will change tack.

The government "wants to show that it is doing the best for the forest. In fact, it is doing its utmost for deforestation," said Greenpeace's Astrini.

"Brazil is running a campaign to show that it is taking care of the Amazon. It's a lie," he said.

And there's little to suggest that the fires are abating.

Between September 18 and 19, the number of forest fires in Rondonia state jumped to 242 from 12 just the day before, an increase of 1,915 per cent, according to the INPE.

Fears are also rising over the number of blazes in the Cerrado savanna, which account for a third of all the fires in Brazil.

And on Friday the World Wide Fund for Nature warned of an "emergency situation in the biome" of the Pantanal wetland.

Fires have risen 351 per cent since January in the Pantanal region, some 90 per cent of which were set illegally.

The fires that burned through the Amazon rainforest last month sparked international outcry and offers of help, but as world leaders meet in New York, the planet's largest rainforest remains engulfed in flames.

The fires that burned through the Amazon rainforest last month sparked international outcry and offers of help, but as world leaders meet in New York, the planet's largest rainforest remains engulfed in flames. The latest satellite data from Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) shows 131,600 fires burning since January within the country, where 60 per cent of the Amazon lies. The fires, which are mostly caused by humans with the goal of clearing land for farming and cattle ranching, are having a grievous effect on the forest: the rate of deforestation in the Amazon has nearly doubled since far-right President Jair Bolsonaro came to power on January 1, with the equivalent of 110 football fields of land being cleared every hour. "It's sad to see Brazilians attacking me for fires in the Amazon as if they hadn't always existed," Bolsonaro wrote on Facebook Thursday. We "remain below the average of the last 15 years. But I'm accused of being a Nero, who sets fires everywhere." Yet fires are at a seven-year high, according to INPE data, and despite a slight drop at the start of the month, the number of active fires recorded in Brazil from the start of the year to September 19 was up 56 per cent over the same period in 2018. Nearly half of the blazes are in the Amazon. Bolsonaro is a climate change sceptic, but last month he sent soldiers to help put out fires in the Amazon region after Brazil came under criticism at the G7 summit, with the host French President Emmanuel Macron among the most outspoken detractors. Under that deployment, which was renewed Friday for another month, nearly 7,000 soldiers and 16 aircraft are fighting both the flames and "deforestation and illegal mining," Brazil's defence ministry said. 'I'm going to get hit' Marcio Astrini, a Greenpeace official in Brazil, said the deployment is making little difference. "We did a lot of fly-overs. We did not see anything happening on the ground, apart from the deforestation that is progressing. It's tragic," he told AFP. Experts sent by the United States, logistical equipment from Japan, and four aircraft from Chile are all fighting the blazes, while firefighters sent from Israel have departed, the defence ministry said. Bolsonaro, however, has blanched at other international offers to help put out the fires, rejecting $20 million from the G7 and accusing members France and Germany of "buying" Brazil's sovereignty. On Monday, Macron will launch a "call for mobilization" on the Amazon together with his counterparts Sebastian Pinera of Chile and Ivan Duque of Colombia during a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Brazil won't attend the meeting, but Environment Minister Ricardo Salles, also a climate change sceptic, will appear at the UN's climate summit on Monday, before travelling to Europe. On Tuesday, Bolsonaro will make the opening speech at the UN General Assembly, in which he is expected to focus on the Amazon. "I am preparing a rather objective speech, unlike my predecessor," he wrote on Facebook, adding, "I'm going to get hit, you can be sure. The media always finds something to complain about." No end in sight Environmental groups have little faith that Bolsonaro will change tack. The government "wants to show that it is doing the best for the forest. In fact, it is doing its utmost for deforestation," said Greenpeace's Astrini. "Brazil is running a campaign to show that it is taking care of the Amazon. It's a lie," he said. And there's little to suggest that the fires are abating. Between September 18 and 19, the number of forest fires in Rondonia state jumped to 242 from 12 just the day before, an increase of 1,915 per cent, according to the INPE. Fears are also rising over the number of blazes in the Cerrado savanna, which account for a third of all the fires in Brazil. And on Friday the World Wide Fund for Nature warned of an "emergency situation in the biome" of the Pantanal wetland. Fires have risen 351 per cent since January in the Pantanal region, some 90 per cent of which were set illegally.

As global leaders meet, the Amazon rainforest burns

Deforestation in Brazil's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazon-countries-meet-to-bolster-rainforest-protection-248160">Amazon rainforest </a>rose for the fourth straight month in August from a year earlier, according to preliminary government data released on Friday, adding to concerns over fires already ravaging the region.

The Brazilian Amazon is facing its worst spate of forest fires since 2010, with news of the destruction of the world's largest rainforest last month prompting global outcry and worries that it could hurt demand for the country's exports.

Brazil's leading meat export industry group and other agribusiness associations on Friday joined with nongovernment organizations (NGOs) to call for an end to deforestation on public lands, demanding government action amid the fires.

"I haven't seen any contracts being cancelled in any sectors. Exports continue, but the red light is flashing," Marcello Brito, president of the Brazilian Agribusiness Association, told reporters at a briefing.

"If action isn't taken, if the discourse doesn't change, if the rhetoric doesn't change, then things can get worse."

Environmentalists blame the strong rhetoric of right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro in favour of developing the Amazon for emboldening deforesters and those setting fires.

Bolsonaro has complained that the country does not have the resources to police an area as large as the Amazon. The country is facing a steep budget shortfall as its economy recovers slower than expected from a deep recession.

Brazil's Environment Minister Ricardo Salles told Reuters in an interview on Friday that the government did not have enough funds to hire more permanent environmental enforcement agents, who are used to combat deforestation and fires

Instead, the federal government plans to hire state environmental police on their days off to assist in enforcement, he said.

"You have to be creative," Salles said.

The Group of Seven wealthy nations offered $20 million in aid last week to help fight the fires, but Bolsonaro said he would only accept it if French President Emmanuel Macron withdrew "insults" against him.

Bolsonaro and Macron have been embroiled in a deeply personal and public war of words, with Bolsonaro mocking Macron's wife and accusing the French leader of disrespecting Brazil's sovereignty. Macron has called Bolsonaro a liar and said Brazilian women are "probably ashamed" of him.

It remains unclear if Brazil will accept the offer, although the country will take 10 million pounds in aid from the United Kingdom, according to the British embassy in Brasilia.

Deforestation rising

In the eight months through August, Amazon deforestation rose 92% to 6,404.8 square kilometres (2,472.91 square miles), an area larger than the U.S. state of Delaware, according to preliminary data from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE).

In August alone, deforestation more than tripled to 1,700.8 square kilometres (657 square miles).

Deforestation is often followed by burning to clear land for ranching or farming, so the destruction in August could signal more fires to come in the Amazon, according Ana Paula Aguiar, an INPE land-use researcher now on leave at Stockholm University.

"They cut trees and then later they start fires, so possibly (the spike in fires) will continue," Aguiar said. "If they have already deforested in the previous month, we'll see fire this month."

In the first five days of September, INPE registered 2,799 fires in the Amazon, a decrease of 60% compared to the same period of 2018.

If the hotspots continue to be registered at the same rate, September could be a better month for fires, falling below the same month a year ago and the average for the last 20 years, Aguiar said. But with only a few days of data, it is too soon to tell, she said.

Environment Minister Salles attributed the fall in the number of fires to the government's measures to combat the fires, which included sending in the military.

Rain could bring relief to the western part of the Brazilian Amazon, although to the east broad swathes of the rainforest will remain extremely dry, according to Refinitiv data.

Call to action

Meat group Abiec and NGOs Imazon and IPAM are among the 11 Brazilian groups that signed on to a campaign on Friday calling for a Justice Ministry task force to resolve conflicts over public land, representatives of the groups told reporters.

The protection of the Amazon, which absorbs vast amounts of greenhouse gas that causes global warming, is seen as vital to the fight against climate change. Roughly 60% of the Amazon lies in Brazil.

The campaign also calls for another task force to examine forests on public land that have not been assigned any reserve or other status.

About 40% of deforestation in 2018 occurred on public lands, according to IPAM.

All forests should receive designations based on what they are best suited for, IPAM Executive Director Andre Guimaraes said. For example, if it contains sensitive species, a forest could be protected as a reserve or national park, he said.

Others could be designated as national forests or as concession areas for sustainable logging, Guimaraes said.

Roughly 650,000 square km (250,966 square miles) of forest in Brazil - an area nearly twice the size of Germany - have no designation, according to IPAM.

Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest rose for the fourth straight month in August from a year earlier, according to preliminary government data released on Friday, adding to concerns over fires already ravaging the region.

Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest rose for the fourth straight month in August from a year earlier, according to preliminary government data released on Friday, adding to concerns over fires already ravaging the region. The Brazilian Amazon is facing its worst spate of forest fires since 2010, with news of the destruction of the world's largest rainforest last month prompting global outcry and worries that it could hurt demand for the country's exports. Brazil's leading meat export industry group and other agribusiness associations on Friday joined with nongovernment organizations (NGOs) to call for an end to deforestation on public lands, demanding government action amid the fires. "I haven't seen any contracts being cancelled in any sectors. Exports continue, but the red light is flashing," Marcello Brito, president of the Brazilian Agribusiness Association, told reporters at a briefing. "If action isn't taken, if the discourse doesn't change, if the rhetoric doesn't change, then things can get worse." Environmentalists blame the strong rhetoric of right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro in favour of developing the Amazon for emboldening deforesters and those setting fires. Bolsonaro has complained that the country does not have the resources to police an area as large as the Amazon. The country is facing a steep budget shortfall as its economy recovers slower than expected from a deep recession. Brazil's Environment Minister Ricardo Salles told Reuters in an interview on Friday that the government did not have enough funds to hire more permanent environmental enforcement agents, who are used to combat deforestation and fires Instead, the federal government plans to hire state environmental police on their days off to assist in enforcement, he said. "You have to be creative," Salles said. The Group of Seven wealthy nations offered $20 million in aid last week to help fight the fires, but Bolsonaro said he would only accept it if French President Emmanuel Macron withdrew "insults" against him. Bolsonaro and Macron have been embroiled in a deeply personal and public war of words, with Bolsonaro mocking Macron's wife and accusing the French leader of disrespecting Brazil's sovereignty. Macron has called Bolsonaro a liar and said Brazilian women are "probably ashamed" of him. It remains unclear if Brazil will accept the offer, although the country will take 10 million pounds in aid from the United Kingdom, according to the British embassy in Brasilia. Deforestation rising In the eight months through August, Amazon deforestation rose 92% to 6,404.8 square kilometres (2,472.91 square miles), an area larger than the U.S. state of Delaware, according to preliminary data from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). In August alone, deforestation more than tripled to 1,700.8 square kilometres (657 square miles). Deforestation is often followed by burning to clear land for ranching or farming, so the destruction in August could signal more fires to come in the Amazon, according Ana Paula Aguiar, an INPE land-use researcher now on leave at Stockholm University. "They cut trees and then later they start fires, so possibly (the spike in fires) will continue," Aguiar said. "If they have already deforested in the previous month, we'll see fire this month." In the first five days of September, INPE registered 2,799 fires in the Amazon, a decrease of 60% compared to the same period of 2018. If the hotspots continue to be registered at the same rate, September could be a better month for fires, falling below the same month a year ago and the average for the last 20 years, Aguiar said. But with only a few days of data, it is too soon to tell, she said. Environment Minister Salles attributed the fall in the number of fires to the government's measures to combat the fires, which included sending in the military. Rain could bring relief to the western part of the Brazilian Amazon, although to the east broad swathes of the rainforest will remain extremely dry, according to Refinitiv data. Call to action Meat group Abiec and NGOs Imazon and IPAM are among the 11 Brazilian groups that signed on to a campaign on Friday calling for a Justice Ministry task force to resolve conflicts over public land, representatives of the groups told reporters. The protection of the Amazon, which absorbs vast amounts of greenhouse gas that causes global warming, is seen as vital to the fight against climate change. Roughly 60% of the Amazon lies in Brazil. The campaign also calls for another task force to examine forests on public land that have not been assigned any reserve or other status. About 40% of deforestation in 2018 occurred on public lands, according to IPAM. All forests should receive designations based on what they are best suited for, IPAM Executive Director Andre Guimaraes said. For example, if it contains sensitive species, a forest could be protected as a reserve or national park, he said. Others could be designated as national forests or as concession areas for sustainable logging, Guimaraes said. Roughly 650,000 square km (250,966 square miles) of forest in Brazil - an area nearly twice the size of Germany - have no designation, according to IPAM.

Brazil deforestation rises in August, adding to Amazon fire worries

Presidents and ministers from seven Amazon countries met in Colombia on Friday to agree on measures to protect the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-president-bolsonaro-to-skip-amazon-summit-on-doctors-orders-247289">world's biggest rainforest</a>, under threat from wildfires and rampant deforestation.

The summit took place in the wake of an international outcry over months of raging fires that have devastated swaths of the Amazon in Brazil and Bolivia.

The gathering aimed "to foster a space for regional dialogue to advance the protection and sustainable use of this region, which is essential for the survival of the planet," Colombia's President Ivan Duque said.

Duque inaugurated the meeting in a "maloka" -- an indigenous hut -- surrounded by members of the Tikuna tribe with headdresses of coloured feathers in southern Colombia's Amazon city of Leticia.

Brazil's President<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hm-suspends-brazil-leather-purchases-over-amazon-fires-247906"> Jair Bolsonaro</a>, widely criticized over policies that favour deforestation and a delayed reaction to the wildfires, did not travel to Leticia, citing doctors' orders.

However, speaking by videoconference, he urged other leaders to resist calls, spearheaded by French President Emmanuel Macron, to internationalize protection of the Amazon.

"We must take a strong position of defence of sovereignty so that each country can develop the best policy for the Amazon region, and not leave it in the hands of other countries," said Bolsonaro, who is due to undergo surgery Sunday.

Protection pact&nbsp;

Seated at a long wooden table in the shade of tall trees, the representatives of the seven nations signed the "Leticia Pact for the Amazon" that Duque said would provide greater protection for the rainforest, as existing treaties had "fallen short."&nbsp;

The pact establishes a roadmap for safeguarding the rainforest "not only for the Amazon countries but also the nations of the region and the international community," he said.

Colombia's Environment Minister Ricardo Lozano said the new measures include the establishment of an "Amazonian cooperation network" to share information on deforestation, including weather data to mitigate the effects of climate change, and threats from illegal mining and logging.

"We needed to increase and strengthen the cooperation between us, precisely to meet the great challenges of the Amazon, which are becoming more extreme and more intense every day," he told reporters in Leticia.

Aside from the host Duque, other presidents attending were Peru's Martin Vizcarra, Ecuador's Lenin Moreno and Evo Morales of Bolivia. Suriname's vice-president Michael Adhin and Guyana's natural resources minister Raphael Trotman also attended.

Brazil was represented by Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo.

"We have to give concrete answers," Vizcarra told the conference. "The dimension of the problem forces us to make drastic decisions."

New instruments

In a message to the summit, UNESCO director-general Audrey Azoulay called on leaders to "reinforce existing instruments" designed to protect the Amazon.

"These instruments should be strengthened, more states encouraged to ratify them, increase protected areas, strengthen surveillance and action capabilities."

Brazil contains 60 per cent of the rainforest within its borders, with the rest spread over areas of Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela as well as the French overseas department of French Guyana.

Venezuela, despite having a large swath of the Amazon, was not invited, as host Colombia does not recognize the presidency of Nicolas Maduro.

Presidents and ministers from seven Amazon countries met in Colombia on Friday to agree on measures to protect the world's biggest rainforest, under threat from wildfires and rampant deforestation.

Presidents and ministers from seven Amazon countries met in Colombia on Friday to agree on measures to protect the world's biggest rainforest, under threat from wildfires and rampant deforestation. The summit took place in the wake of an international outcry over months of raging fires that have devastated swaths of the Amazon in Brazil and Bolivia. The gathering aimed "to foster a space for regional dialogue to advance the protection and sustainable use of this region, which is essential for the survival of the planet," Colombia's President Ivan Duque said. Duque inaugurated the meeting in a "maloka" -- an indigenous hut -- surrounded by members of the Tikuna tribe with headdresses of coloured feathers in southern Colombia's Amazon city of Leticia. Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, widely criticized over policies that favour deforestation and a delayed reaction to the wildfires, did not travel to Leticia, citing doctors' orders. However, speaking by videoconference, he urged other leaders to resist calls, spearheaded by French President Emmanuel Macron, to internationalize protection of the Amazon. "We must take a strong position of defence of sovereignty so that each country can develop the best policy for the Amazon region, and not leave it in the hands of other countries," said Bolsonaro, who is due to undergo surgery Sunday. Protection pact Seated at a long wooden table in the shade of tall trees, the representatives of the seven nations signed the "Leticia Pact for the Amazon" that Duque said would provide greater protection for the rainforest, as existing treaties had "fallen short." The pact establishes a roadmap for safeguarding the rainforest "not only for the Amazon countries but also the nations of the region and the international community," he said. Colombia's Environment Minister Ricardo Lozano said the new measures include the establishment of an "Amazonian cooperation network" to share information on deforestation, including weather data to mitigate the effects of climate change, and threats from illegal mining and logging. "We needed to increase and strengthen the cooperation between us, precisely to meet the great challenges of the Amazon, which are becoming more extreme and more intense every day," he told reporters in Leticia. Aside from the host Duque, other presidents attending were Peru's Martin Vizcarra, Ecuador's Lenin Moreno and Evo Morales of Bolivia. Suriname's vice-president Michael Adhin and Guyana's natural resources minister Raphael Trotman also attended. Brazil was represented by Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo. "We have to give concrete answers," Vizcarra told the conference. "The dimension of the problem forces us to make drastic decisions." New instruments In a message to the summit, UNESCO director-general Audrey Azoulay called on leaders to "reinforce existing instruments" designed to protect the Amazon. "These instruments should be strengthened, more states encouraged to ratify them, increase protected areas, strengthen surveillance and action capabilities." Brazil contains 60 per cent of the rainforest within its borders, with the rest spread over areas of Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela as well as the French overseas department of French Guyana. Venezuela, despite having a large swath of the Amazon, was not invited, as host Colombia does not recognize the presidency of Nicolas Maduro.

Aimed at greater protection, seven Amazon countries sign Leticia Pact at Colombia summit

Fashion giant H&amp;M on Thursday announced it was suspending leather purchases from Brazil in response to the Amazon fires that have provoked a global outcry.

The ban comes after US-based VF Corporation, which owns a string of brands including Timberland, Vans and The North Face, announced late last month it would no longer buy leather from Brazil over concerns about the destruction of the world's largest rainforest.

H&amp;M said it was imposing a temporary freeze on orders until it had confidence the leather was not causing "environmental harm".

"Due to the severe fires in the Brazilian part of the Amazon rainforest, and the connections to cattle production, we have decided to place a temporary ban on leather from Brazil," the Swedish clothing retail firm said in a statement to AFP.

"The ban will be active until there are credible assurance systems in place to verify that the leather does not contribute to environmental harm in the Amazon," it said.

The blazes that have engulfed parts of the world's largest rainforest -- crucial for maintaining a stable global climate -- have sparked a diplomatic spat between Brazil and Europe that threatens to torpedo a major trade deal.

French President Emmanuel Macron has accused his Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro of lying to him about his commitments on climate change and vowed to block the EU-Mercosur trade deal involving Brazil that took decades to negotiate.

Bolsonaro last week signed a decree to ban burning throughout the country for two months.

H&amp;M was last year among dozens of top fashion industry firms to pledge at UN climate talks to reduce their combined greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2030.&nbsp;

The 43 firms agreed to prioritise "climate-friendly" materials and low-carbon transport and to stop installing coal-fired boilers at manufacturing sites from no later than 2025.

Fashion giant H&M on Thursday announced it was suspending leather purchases from Brazil in response to the Amazon fires that have provoked a global outcry. The ban comes after US-based VF Corporation, which owns a string of brands including Timberland, Vans and The North Face, announced late last month it would no longer buy leather from Brazil over concerns about the destruction of the world's largest rainforest.

Fashion giant H&M on Thursday announced it was suspending leather purchases from Brazil in response to the Amazon fires that have provoked a global outcry. The ban comes after US-based VF Corporation, which owns a string of brands including Timberland, Vans and The North Face, announced late last month it would no longer buy leather from Brazil over concerns about the destruction of the world's largest rainforest. H&M said it was imposing a temporary freeze on orders until it had confidence the leather was not causing "environmental harm". "Due to the severe fires in the Brazilian part of the Amazon rainforest, and the connections to cattle production, we have decided to place a temporary ban on leather from Brazil," the Swedish clothing retail firm said in a statement to AFP. "The ban will be active until there are credible assurance systems in place to verify that the leather does not contribute to environmental harm in the Amazon," it said. The blazes that have engulfed parts of the world's largest rainforest -- crucial for maintaining a stable global climate -- have sparked a diplomatic spat between Brazil and Europe that threatens to torpedo a major trade deal. French President Emmanuel Macron has accused his Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro of lying to him about his commitments on climate change and vowed to block the EU-Mercosur trade deal involving Brazil that took decades to negotiate. Bolsonaro last week signed a decree to ban burning throughout the country for two months. H&M was last year among dozens of top fashion industry firms to pledge at UN climate talks to reduce their combined greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. The 43 firms agreed to prioritise "climate-friendly" materials and low-carbon transport and to stop installing coal-fired boilers at manufacturing sites from no later than 2025.

H&M suspends Brazil leather purchases over Amazon fires

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro will skip a regional summit on fires that have devastated swaths of the Amazon because doctors want him to get ready for surgery scheduled for next week, a spokesman said Monday.

The far-right president has been widely criticized over his support for Amazon deforestation and a delayed reaction to wildfires that have hit the rain forest.

Bolsonaro has to go on a liquid diet starting Friday, the same day as the summit in Colombia, and this makes the trip unfeasible, said spokesman Otavio Rego Barros.

Brazil is considering sending a substitute or even asking that the meeting be postponed, said the spokesman.

Bolsonaro is due to undergo surgery Sunday to correct an incisional hernia, his fourth operation since he was stabbed nearly a year ago during the presidential campaign.

Doctors said Bolsonaro would need 10 days' rest following the operation, which would be performed in Sao Paulo.

Earlier Monday, the president vowed to defend his controversial Amazon policy at this month's UN General Assembly even if he had to do so "in a wheelchair."

"I will appear before the UN even in a wheelchair, on a stretcher. I will appear because I want to talk about the Amazon," Bolsonaro told reporters outside his official residence in Brasilia.

Brazil traditionally makes the first speech at the General Assembly meeting, set for September 24.

Responding to criticism of his policy, Bolsonaro has accused France and Germany of attempting to buy Brazil's sovereignty after the G7 group of rich democracies offered $20 million in Amazon fire aid.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro will skip a regional summit on fires that have devastated swaths of the Amazon because doctors want him to get ready for surgery scheduled for next week, a spokesman said Monday.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro will skip a regional summit on fires that have devastated swaths of the Amazon because doctors want him to get ready for surgery scheduled for next week, a spokesman said Monday. The far-right president has been widely criticized over his support for Amazon deforestation and a delayed reaction to wildfires that have hit the rain forest. Bolsonaro has to go on a liquid diet starting Friday, the same day as the summit in Colombia, and this makes the trip unfeasible, said spokesman Otavio Rego Barros. Brazil is considering sending a substitute or even asking that the meeting be postponed, said the spokesman. Bolsonaro is due to undergo surgery Sunday to correct an incisional hernia, his fourth operation since he was stabbed nearly a year ago during the presidential campaign. Doctors said Bolsonaro would need 10 days' rest following the operation, which would be performed in Sao Paulo. Earlier Monday, the president vowed to defend his controversial Amazon policy at this month's UN General Assembly even if he had to do so "in a wheelchair." "I will appear before the UN even in a wheelchair, on a stretcher. I will appear because I want to talk about the Amazon," Bolsonaro told reporters outside his official residence in Brasilia. Brazil traditionally makes the first speech at the General Assembly meeting, set for September 24. Responding to criticism of his policy, Bolsonaro has accused France and Germany of attempting to buy Brazil's sovereignty after the G7 group of rich democracies offered $20 million in Amazon fire aid.

Brazil president Bolsonaro to skip Amazon summit on doctor's orders

President Jair Bolsonaro said Friday that Europe has "nothing to teach" Brazil about preserving the environment, as data showed thousands of new fires were ignited on the first day of a ban on burning.&nbsp;

The far-right leader's comments are likely to fuel a diplomatic row between Brazil and Europe over the worst fires in years in the Amazon basin. Offers have come in from overseas to help put them out.&nbsp;

It comes as a Brazilian delegation, which includes Bolsonaro's third son and hopeful ambassador to the United States, is set to meet with senior US administration officials at the White House on Friday after President Donald Trump offered to assist with the Amazon crisis.&nbsp;

Bolsonaro has accused Germany and France of "buying" Brazil's sovereignty after the G7 offered $20 million in Amazon fire aid and he initially rejected the money unless his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron withdrew insults made against him. &nbsp;

Bolsonaro later said Brazil would accept bilateral aid to fight the fires but has insisted the Latin American country must control the money.

The Brazilian president told reporters he would talk to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, without specifying when, and repeated a demand that "our dear Macron" retract remarks relating to Brazil's sovereignty of the Amazon before he would speak to him.&nbsp;

"Europe has nothing to teach us about preserving the environment," Bolsonaro said, reiterating his plan for "sustainable exploitation" of the Amazon.

"It will happen," he added.

The visit by Bolsonaro's son Eduardo and Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo to Washington was to thank Trump for his support during the crisis over the Amazon fires, the Brazilian leader said Thursday.

A senior US administration official said the men would visit the White House. There was no confirmation they would meet with Trump.

More fires

On the eve of the G7 summit last week, Macron declared the forest fires, which are also affecting Bolivia, an "international crisis" and put it on the agenda of the gathering of the rich democracies.&nbsp;

Macron also accused Bolsonaro of lying to him about Brazil's climate change stance.

Bolsonaro reacted furiously, accusing Macron of having a "colonialist mentality."&nbsp;

Under growing pressure to do more, Bolsonaro issued a nationwide 60-day ban on burning that took effect Thursday.&nbsp;

Activists quickly doused hopes that the prohibition would work in the remote Amazon region where deforestation has surged this year as agencies tasked with monitoring illegal activities were weakened.&nbsp;

On the same day, as the ban took effect, 2,300 new fires were detected -- most of them in the Amazon basin -- taking the total number for this year to 87,257, the latest figures from the National Institute for Space Research show.

Nearly 1,500 of the new fires were in the vast Amazon basin.&nbsp;

This year's total is the highest since 2010 when 132,106 fires were detected across the country.

Para was the hardest hit state on Thursday, with 587 new blazes -- up 67 per cent from the previous day.

Some 464 fires were started in Mato Grosso, a rise of 274 per cent.&nbsp;

In Rondonia, where firefighting efforts were initially concentrated, 67 new fires were registered, nearly three times the previous day. &nbsp;

Police on Thursday arrested three people for burning more than 5,000 hectares (12,350 acres) in a conservation area in Para.&nbsp;

Thousands of troops and firefighters have been deployed since the weekend to combat the fires, along with two C-130 Hercules and other aircraft that are dumping water over affected areas in the country's north.

The defence ministry says the fires are under control.&nbsp;

Bolsonaro claimed in a live broadcast on Facebook on Thursday that "this year's fires are below the average of recent years."

President Jair Bolsonaro said Friday that Europe has "nothing to teach" Brazil about preserving the environment, as data showed thousands of new fires were ignited on the first day of a ban on burning.

President Jair Bolsonaro said Friday that Europe has "nothing to teach" Brazil about preserving the environment, as data showed thousands of new fires were ignited on the first day of a ban on burning. The far-right leader's comments are likely to fuel a diplomatic row between Brazil and Europe over the worst fires in years in the Amazon basin. Offers have come in from overseas to help put them out. It comes as a Brazilian delegation, which includes Bolsonaro's third son and hopeful ambassador to the United States, is set to meet with senior US administration officials at the White House on Friday after President Donald Trump offered to assist with the Amazon crisis. Bolsonaro has accused Germany and France of "buying" Brazil's sovereignty after the G7 offered $20 million in Amazon fire aid and he initially rejected the money unless his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron withdrew insults made against him. Bolsonaro later said Brazil would accept bilateral aid to fight the fires but has insisted the Latin American country must control the money. The Brazilian president told reporters he would talk to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, without specifying when, and repeated a demand that "our dear Macron" retract remarks relating to Brazil's sovereignty of the Amazon before he would speak to him. "Europe has nothing to teach us about preserving the environment," Bolsonaro said, reiterating his plan for "sustainable exploitation" of the Amazon. "It will happen," he added. The visit by Bolsonaro's son Eduardo and Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo to Washington was to thank Trump for his support during the crisis over the Amazon fires, the Brazilian leader said Thursday. A senior US administration official said the men would visit the White House. There was no confirmation they would meet with Trump. More fires On the eve of the G7 summit last week, Macron declared the forest fires, which are also affecting Bolivia, an "international crisis" and put it on the agenda of the gathering of the rich democracies. Macron also accused Bolsonaro of lying to him about Brazil's climate change stance. Bolsonaro reacted furiously, accusing Macron of having a "colonialist mentality." Under growing pressure to do more, Bolsonaro issued a nationwide 60-day ban on burning that took effect Thursday. Activists quickly doused hopes that the prohibition would work in the remote Amazon region where deforestation has surged this year as agencies tasked with monitoring illegal activities were weakened. On the same day, as the ban took effect, 2,300 new fires were detected -- most of them in the Amazon basin -- taking the total number for this year to 87,257, the latest figures from the National Institute for Space Research show. Nearly 1,500 of the new fires were in the vast Amazon basin. This year's total is the highest since 2010 when 132,106 fires were detected across the country. Para was the hardest hit state on Thursday, with 587 new blazes -- up 67 per cent from the previous day. Some 464 fires were started in Mato Grosso, a rise of 274 per cent. In Rondonia, where firefighting efforts were initially concentrated, 67 new fires were registered, nearly three times the previous day. Police on Thursday arrested three people for burning more than 5,000 hectares (12,350 acres) in a conservation area in Para. Thousands of troops and firefighters have been deployed since the weekend to combat the fires, along with two C-130 Hercules and other aircraft that are dumping water over affected areas in the country's north. The defence ministry says the fires are under control. Bolsonaro claimed in a live broadcast on Facebook on Thursday that "this year's fires are below the average of recent years."

'Europe has nothing to teach Brazil about preserving environment,' says Bolsonaro as Amazon fires soar

Fires in Brazil's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazils-burning-ban-takes-effect-as-amazon-fires-rage-246490">Amazon rainforest</a> have receded slightly since President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolsonaros-son-heads-to-washington-to-thank-trump-for-amazon-support-246511">Jair Bolsonaro</a> sent in the military to help battle the blazes, but international fallout accelerated as a major shoemaker said it would not buy supplies from Brazil.

Brazil has registered 2,696 fires in the Amazon in the five days since Saturday, when the military began on-the-ground firefighting efforts, according to data from Brazil's space research agency INPE. That is down 31% from the previous five days when 3,917 fires were registered before the military response.

The thousands of fires tearing through the Amazon have spawned an international crisis for Brazil, with public protests and world leaders voicing concern that Bolsonaro's government is doing too little to protect the world's largest tropical rainforest. After several days of criticism, Bolsonaro decided to send in the military to support firefighting efforts.

This year's surge in fires, which INPE says is the worst since 2010, also raises fears of companies stepping back from Brazil amid adverse publicity surrounding the burning forest and the prospect of international sanctions.

On Thursday, the owner of shoe and apparel brands including Timberland, Vans and the North Face took the most concrete corporate move yet in response to the fires. VF Corp&nbsp;will no longer buy Brazilian leather, it said in a statement.

VF said it would resume buying Brazilian leather when "we have the confidence and assurance that the materials used in our products do not contribute to environmental harm in the country."

The Greensboro, North Carolina-based company, whose other brands include Dickies, Smartwool and JanSport, said it is no longer able to assure that leather from Brazilian suppliers meets this commitment.

The company did not respond to questions regarding the value of its Brazilian leather imports or possible markets it might use for alternative supply.

According to the Center for the Brazilian Tanning Industry, the main leather trade group in Brazil, the country exported $1.44 billion of bovine leather in 2018. Its largest export markets were the United States, China and Italy, which together consumed about 60% of Brazilian leather exports in 2018.

Elsewhere, Norway has urged several of its companies to ensure they do not contribute to Amazon deforestation, including oil firm Equinor ASA, fertilizer-maker Yara International ASA and aluminum producer Norsk Hydro ASA.

The fires have also led to heightened scrutiny of Brazilian agriculture, one of the country's main economic engines.

Responding to concerns, soy crusher industry group Abiove released data it said shows that production of the oilseeds is not contributing to the fires.

The 10 towns in the Amazon reporting the most fires have only 30,000 hectares of soy planted, a negligible amount in Brazil's overall soy trade, Abiove said. Brazil's total planted soy area is 36 million hectares.

Still, more than half of the plantings were in the municipality of Novo Progresso in the Amazonian state of Pará. That town was the epicentre of the so-called Fire Day earlier this month which allegedly called on people to set fires to clear land for agriculture and cattle grazing - a claim prosecutors are still investigating.

Environmentalists claim that fires were set by real estate speculators and ranchers, as it is common practice to clear land for agricultural use.

Bolsonaro has insisted fires are under control and issued a decree on Thursday banning fires from being set across the country for 60 days.

On Thursday, he thanked US&nbsp;President Donald Trump for his support in the Group of Seven's discussion of the Amazon region at last weekend's summit in France of the world's wealthiest nations. 
&nbsp;

Fires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest have receded slightly since President Jair Bolsonaro sent in the military to help battle the blazes, but international fallout accelerated as a major shoemaker said it would not buy supplies from Brazil.

Fires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest have receded slightly since President Jair Bolsonaro sent in the military to help battle the blazes, but international fallout accelerated as a major shoemaker said it would not buy supplies from Brazil. Brazil has registered 2,696 fires in the Amazon in the five days since Saturday, when the military began on-the-ground firefighting efforts, according to data from Brazil's space research agency INPE. That is down 31% from the previous five days when 3,917 fires were registered before the military response. The thousands of fires tearing through the Amazon have spawned an international crisis for Brazil, with public protests and world leaders voicing concern that Bolsonaro's government is doing too little to protect the world's largest tropical rainforest. After several days of criticism, Bolsonaro decided to send in the military to support firefighting efforts. This year's surge in fires, which INPE says is the worst since 2010, also raises fears of companies stepping back from Brazil amid adverse publicity surrounding the burning forest and the prospect of international sanctions. On Thursday, the owner of shoe and apparel brands including Timberland, Vans and the North Face took the most concrete corporate move yet in response to the fires. VF Corp will no longer buy Brazilian leather, it said in a statement. VF said it would resume buying Brazilian leather when "we have the confidence and assurance that the materials used in our products do not contribute to environmental harm in the country." The Greensboro, North Carolina-based company, whose other brands include Dickies, Smartwool and JanSport, said it is no longer able to assure that leather from Brazilian suppliers meets this commitment. The company did not respond to questions regarding the value of its Brazilian leather imports or possible markets it might use for alternative supply. According to the Center for the Brazilian Tanning Industry, the main leather trade group in Brazil, the country exported $1.44 billion of bovine leather in 2018. Its largest export markets were the United States, China and Italy, which together consumed about 60% of Brazilian leather exports in 2018. Elsewhere, Norway has urged several of its companies to ensure they do not contribute to Amazon deforestation, including oil firm Equinor ASA, fertilizer-maker Yara International ASA and aluminum producer Norsk Hydro ASA. The fires have also led to heightened scrutiny of Brazilian agriculture, one of the country's main economic engines. Responding to concerns, soy crusher industry group Abiove released data it said shows that production of the oilseeds is not contributing to the fires. The 10 towns in the Amazon reporting the most fires have only 30,000 hectares of soy planted, a negligible amount in Brazil's overall soy trade, Abiove said. Brazil's total planted soy area is 36 million hectares. Still, more than half of the plantings were in the municipality of Novo Progresso in the Amazonian state of Pará. That town was the epicentre of the so-called Fire Day earlier this month which allegedly called on people to set fires to clear land for agriculture and cattle grazing - a claim prosecutors are still investigating. Environmentalists claim that fires were set by real estate speculators and ranchers, as it is common practice to clear land for agricultural use. Bolsonaro has insisted fires are under control and issued a decree on Thursday banning fires from being set across the country for 60 days. On Thursday, he thanked US President Donald Trump for his support in the Group of Seven's discussion of the Amazon region at last weekend's summit in France of the world's wealthiest nations.

In response to Amazon wildfire, owner of Timberland, Vans says will not buy Brazilian leather

A 60-day ban on burning in Brazil takes effect Thursday after a global outcry over fires raging in the Amazon and data showing hundreds of new blazes in the rainforest.

The decree issued by President Jair Bolsonaro comes after escalating international pressure over the worst fires in the Amazon in years that have ignited a diplomatic spat between Brazil and Europe.

But activists quickly doused hopes that the ban would work.

"The people who burn without a license are not going to obey," said Rodrigo Junqueira of the Socio-Environmental Institute.&nbsp;

Thousands of troops and firefighters have been deployed since the weekend to combat the fires, along with two C-130 Hercules and other aircraft that are dumping water over the hardest-hit areas in the country's north.

More than 1,600 new fires were ignited between Tuesday and Wednesday, taking this year's total to almost 85,000 -- the highest number since 2010, official data shows. More than half of them are in the vast Amazon basin.

The new figures comes as UN chief Antonio Guterres on Thursday mooted a meeting of key countries to drum up support to tackle the fires that have also devastated swaths of Bolivia.&nbsp;

"We are strongly appealing for the mobilization of resources and we have been in contact with countries to see whether, during the high-level session of the General Assembly, there could be a meeting devoted to the mobilization of support to the Amazon," Guterres told reporters.

Ban 'not useful'

International offers of help for combatting the fires is a hot-button issue in Brazil, with Bolsonaro and others insisting on the country's sovereign rights over the Amazon.

Bolsonaro on Wednesday accused France and Germany of "buying" Brazil's sovereignty after the G7 offered $20 million in Amazon fire aid.

Vice President Hamilton Mourao -- widely considered a moderate voice in Bolsonaro's government -- also weighed in publicly for the first time on Wednesday, insisting in an opinion piece that "our Amazon will continue to be Brazilian."

The governors of several states in the Amazon told Bolsonaro in a meeting on Tuesday that international help was needed.

Their plea came after Norway and Germany halted around $70 million in Amazon protection subsidies earlier this month.&nbsp;

The United States is ready and willing to help Brazil fight forest fires in the Amazon, President Donald Trump said Wednesday, criticizing the G7 for failing to consult Bolsonaro over its initiative. &nbsp;

Bolsonaro also renewed a demand Wednesday that French leader Emmanuel Macron withdraw "insults" against him, fueling a war of words between the two men that threatens to torpedo a huge trade deal between the European Union and South American countries, including Brazil.

In the escalating row, Macron has accused Bolsonaro of lying to him about Brazil's climate change stance, while Bolsonaro has slammed Macron as having a colonialist mentality.&nbsp;

"I think Bolsonaro is causing enormous harm to the Brazilian people, a little out of evil and a little out of ignorance," former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told the BBC from jail where he is serving a nearly nine-year sentence for corruption.

Even as Bolsonaro's decree was published Thursday, there were already doubts over how Brazil would enforce the two-month ban on burning in the remote region where deforestation has surged this year as agencies tasked with monitoring illegal activities were weakened.

"It will not be useful," a sceptical fruit shop owner in Porto Velho, the capital of the northwestern state of Rondonia, told AFP.

"There's insufficient supervision." &nbsp;

WWF said Brazil already had laws and tools to detect illegal deforestation and burning, but it lacked enforcement.

"The certainty of impunity is the great spark that starts the fires," WWF said.&nbsp;

Experts say increased land clearing during the months-long dry season to make way for crops or grazing has aggravated the recurring problem of fires.

The defence ministry says the fires are under control and that the number of blazes is falling, helped by recent rain in the affected areas.

A 60-day ban on burning in Brazil takes effect Thursday after a global outcry over fires raging in the Amazon and data showing hundreds of new blazes in the rainforest.

A 60-day ban on burning in Brazil takes effect Thursday after a global outcry over fires raging in the Amazon and data showing hundreds of new blazes in the rainforest. The decree issued by President Jair Bolsonaro comes after escalating international pressure over the worst fires in the Amazon in years that have ignited a diplomatic spat between Brazil and Europe. But activists quickly doused hopes that the ban would work. "The people who burn without a license are not going to obey," said Rodrigo Junqueira of the Socio-Environmental Institute. Thousands of troops and firefighters have been deployed since the weekend to combat the fires, along with two C-130 Hercules and other aircraft that are dumping water over the hardest-hit areas in the country's north. More than 1,600 new fires were ignited between Tuesday and Wednesday, taking this year's total to almost 85,000 -- the highest number since 2010, official data shows. More than half of them are in the vast Amazon basin. The new figures comes as UN chief Antonio Guterres on Thursday mooted a meeting of key countries to drum up support to tackle the fires that have also devastated swaths of Bolivia. "We are strongly appealing for the mobilization of resources and we have been in contact with countries to see whether, during the high-level session of the General Assembly, there could be a meeting devoted to the mobilization of support to the Amazon," Guterres told reporters. Ban 'not useful' International offers of help for combatting the fires is a hot-button issue in Brazil, with Bolsonaro and others insisting on the country's sovereign rights over the Amazon. Bolsonaro on Wednesday accused France and Germany of "buying" Brazil's sovereignty after the G7 offered $20 million in Amazon fire aid. Vice President Hamilton Mourao -- widely considered a moderate voice in Bolsonaro's government -- also weighed in publicly for the first time on Wednesday, insisting in an opinion piece that "our Amazon will continue to be Brazilian." The governors of several states in the Amazon told Bolsonaro in a meeting on Tuesday that international help was needed. Their plea came after Norway and Germany halted around $70 million in Amazon protection subsidies earlier this month. The United States is ready and willing to help Brazil fight forest fires in the Amazon, President Donald Trump said Wednesday, criticizing the G7 for failing to consult Bolsonaro over its initiative. Bolsonaro also renewed a demand Wednesday that French leader Emmanuel Macron withdraw "insults" against him, fueling a war of words between the two men that threatens to torpedo a huge trade deal between the European Union and South American countries, including Brazil. In the escalating row, Macron has accused Bolsonaro of lying to him about Brazil's climate change stance, while Bolsonaro has slammed Macron as having a colonialist mentality. "I think Bolsonaro is causing enormous harm to the Brazilian people, a little out of evil and a little out of ignorance," former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told the BBC from jail where he is serving a nearly nine-year sentence for corruption. Even as Bolsonaro's decree was published Thursday, there were already doubts over how Brazil would enforce the two-month ban on burning in the remote region where deforestation has surged this year as agencies tasked with monitoring illegal activities were weakened. "It will not be useful," a sceptical fruit shop owner in Porto Velho, the capital of the northwestern state of Rondonia, told AFP. "There's insufficient supervision." WWF said Brazil already had laws and tools to detect illegal deforestation and burning, but it lacked enforcement. "The certainty of impunity is the great spark that starts the fires," WWF said. Experts say increased land clearing during the months-long dry season to make way for crops or grazing has aggravated the recurring problem of fires. The defence ministry says the fires are under control and that the number of blazes is falling, helped by recent rain in the affected areas.

Brazil's burning ban takes effect as Amazon fires rage

Hundreds of new fires have flared up in the Amazon in Brazil, data showed Monday, even as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g7-pledges-millions-to-help-fight-amazon-fires-245803">military aircraft dumped water over hard-hit areas and G7 nations pledged to help combat the blazes</a>.

Smoke choked Port Velho city as fires raged in the northwestern state of Rondonia where fire-fighting efforts are concentrated, amid a growing global uproar and a diplomatic spat between France and Brazil.

Two C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying thousands of liters of water on Sunday began dousing fires devouring chunks of the world's largest rainforest, which is seen as crucial to keeping climate change in check. &nbsp;

Swaths of the remote region have been scorched by the worst fires in years, sending thick smoke billowing into the sky.

Experts say increased land clearing during the months-long dry season to make way for crops or grazing has aggravated the problem this year.&nbsp;

The worsening crisis has fueled a row between President Jair Bolsonaro and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, who has been piling pressure on Bolsonaro to do more to protect the forest.

Macron on Monday condemned "extraordinarily rude" comments made about his wife Brigitte by Bolsonaro a day earlier.

Bolsonaro hit back, accusing Macron of treating Brazil like "a colony or no-man's land."

The spat comes as G7 nations meeting in southwestern France agreed to spend 20 million euros ($22 million) on the Amazon, mainly to send fire-fighting aircraft.&nbsp;

The G7 club also agreed to support a medium-term reforestation plan which will be unveiled at the UN in September, Macron and Chile's President Sebastian Pinera said.

Although about 60 per cent of the Amazon is in Brazil, the vast forest also spreads over parts of eight other countries or territories.

Bolivian President Evo Morales said Sunday he would accept international help to combat wildfires raging in his country's southeast as he suspended his election campaign to deal with the crisis.&nbsp;

Brazil has accepted help from Israel, which offered to send an aircraft. &nbsp;

Seven states, including Rondonia, have requested the Brazilian army's help in the Amazon, where more than 43,000 troops have been made available to combat fires.

It is not clear how many of them are actually involved in fire-fighting efforts so far.

After initially blaming the fires on non-government organizations, Bolsonaro on Friday vowed a "zero tolerance" approach to criminal activities in the Amazon and promised strong action to control the blazes.

Dozens of firefighters arrived in Porto Velho on Sunday and Justice Minister Sergio Moro has given the green light for the deployment of security forces to tackle illegal deforestation.&nbsp;

The latest official figures show 80,626 forest fires have been recorded in Brazil this year, the highest number of any year since at least 2013. &nbsp;

More than half of the fires are in the massive Amazon basin.&nbsp;

Some 1,113 new fires were ignited between Saturday and Sunday, according to Brazil's National Institute for Space Research.

Hundreds of new fires have flared up in the Amazon in Brazil, data showed Monday, even as military aircraft dumped water over hard-hit areas and G7 nations pledged to help combat the blazes.

Hundreds of new fires have flared up in the Amazon in Brazil, data showed Monday, even as military aircraft dumped water over hard-hit areas and G7 nations pledged to help combat the blazes. Smoke choked Port Velho city as fires raged in the northwestern state of Rondonia where fire-fighting efforts are concentrated, amid a growing global uproar and a diplomatic spat between France and Brazil. Two C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying thousands of liters of water on Sunday began dousing fires devouring chunks of the world's largest rainforest, which is seen as crucial to keeping climate change in check. Swaths of the remote region have been scorched by the worst fires in years, sending thick smoke billowing into the sky. Experts say increased land clearing during the months-long dry season to make way for crops or grazing has aggravated the problem this year. The worsening crisis has fueled a row between President Jair Bolsonaro and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, who has been piling pressure on Bolsonaro to do more to protect the forest. Macron on Monday condemned "extraordinarily rude" comments made about his wife Brigitte by Bolsonaro a day earlier. Bolsonaro hit back, accusing Macron of treating Brazil like "a colony or no-man's land." The spat comes as G7 nations meeting in southwestern France agreed to spend 20 million euros ($22 million) on the Amazon, mainly to send fire-fighting aircraft. The G7 club also agreed to support a medium-term reforestation plan which will be unveiled at the UN in September, Macron and Chile's President Sebastian Pinera said. Although about 60 per cent of the Amazon is in Brazil, the vast forest also spreads over parts of eight other countries or territories. Bolivian President Evo Morales said Sunday he would accept international help to combat wildfires raging in his country's southeast as he suspended his election campaign to deal with the crisis. Brazil has accepted help from Israel, which offered to send an aircraft. Seven states, including Rondonia, have requested the Brazilian army's help in the Amazon, where more than 43,000 troops have been made available to combat fires. It is not clear how many of them are actually involved in fire-fighting efforts so far. After initially blaming the fires on non-government organizations, Bolsonaro on Friday vowed a "zero tolerance" approach to criminal activities in the Amazon and promised strong action to control the blazes. Dozens of firefighters arrived in Porto Velho on Sunday and Justice Minister Sergio Moro has given the green light for the deployment of security forces to tackle illegal deforestation. The latest official figures show 80,626 forest fires have been recorded in Brazil this year, the highest number of any year since at least 2013. More than half of the fires are in the massive Amazon basin. Some 1,113 new fires were ignited between Saturday and Sunday, according to Brazil's National Institute for Space Research.

More fires flare up in Amazon as Brazil warplanes fight blazes

The G7 has agreed to spend 20 million euros ($22 million) on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/why-are-amazon-fires-so-damaging-and-how-can-we-stop-them-245735">Amazon</a>, mainly to send firefighting aircraft to tackle the huge blazes engulfing many parts of the world's biggest rainforest, the presidents of France and Chile announced Monday.

The G7 club -- comprising Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States -- has also agreed to support a medium-term reforestation plan which will be unveiled at the UN in September, France's Emmanuel Macron and Chile's Sebastian Pinera said at the G7 summit in southwest France.

Brazil would have to agree to any reforestation plan, as would indigenous communities living in the Amazon.

The initiative was announced after G7 leaders meeting in the resort of Biarritz held talks on the environment, focusing on the record number of fires destroying chunks of the Amazon.

Macron had declared the situation in the Amazon region an "international crisis" and made it one of the summit's priorities.

He has threatened to block a huge new trade deal between the EU and Latin America unless Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a climate change sceptic, takes serious steps to protect the forest from logging and mining.

"We must respond to the call of the forest which is burning today in the Amazon," Macron said Monday.

Nearly 80,000 forest fires have been detected in Brazil since the beginning of the year, a little over half in the massive Amazon basin.

Bolsonaro has lashed out at Macron over his criticism and suggested that NGOs could be setting the fires to embarrass him -- without giving any evidence to back the claim.

But at the weekend he finally caved into international pressure to save a region crucial for maintaining a stable global climate, deploying two aircraft to douse the fires and authorising the army to help tackle the blazes.

Speaking in Biarritz, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said new planting was needed "to preserve this universal heritage, which is absolutely essential for the well-being of the world's population."

He said that the issue would be discussed during the UN General Assembly in New York in September.

The G7 has agreed to spend 20 million euros ($22 million) on the Amazon, mainly to send firefighting aircraft to tackle the huge blazes engulfing many parts of the world's biggest rainforest, the presidents of France and Chile announced Monday.

The G7 has agreed to spend 20 million euros ($22 million) on the Amazon, mainly to send firefighting aircraft to tackle the huge blazes engulfing many parts of the world's biggest rainforest, the presidents of France and Chile announced Monday. The G7 club -- comprising Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States -- has also agreed to support a medium-term reforestation plan which will be unveiled at the UN in September, France's Emmanuel Macron and Chile's Sebastian Pinera said at the G7 summit in southwest France. Brazil would have to agree to any reforestation plan, as would indigenous communities living in the Amazon. The initiative was announced after G7 leaders meeting in the resort of Biarritz held talks on the environment, focusing on the record number of fires destroying chunks of the Amazon. Macron had declared the situation in the Amazon region an "international crisis" and made it one of the summit's priorities. He has threatened to block a huge new trade deal between the EU and Latin America unless Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a climate change sceptic, takes serious steps to protect the forest from logging and mining. "We must respond to the call of the forest which is burning today in the Amazon," Macron said Monday. Nearly 80,000 forest fires have been detected in Brazil since the beginning of the year, a little over half in the massive Amazon basin. Bolsonaro has lashed out at Macron over his criticism and suggested that NGOs could be setting the fires to embarrass him -- without giving any evidence to back the claim. But at the weekend he finally caved into international pressure to save a region crucial for maintaining a stable global climate, deploying two aircraft to douse the fires and authorising the army to help tackle the blazes. Speaking in Biarritz, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said new planting was needed "to preserve this universal heritage, which is absolutely essential for the well-being of the world's population." He said that the issue would be discussed during the UN General Assembly in New York in September.

G7 pledges millions to help fight Amazon fires

Brazil on Sunday deployed two Hercules C-130 aircraft to douse fires devouring parts of the Amazon rainforest, as hundreds of new blazes were ignited ahead of nationwide protests over the destruction.

Brazil on Sunday deployed two Hercules C-130 aircraft to douse fires devouring parts of the Amazon rainforest, as hundreds of new blazes were ignited ahead of nationwide protests over the destruction. Heavy smoke covered the city of Porto Velho in the northwestern state of Rondonia where the defence ministry said the planes have started dumping thousands of litres of water, amid a global uproar over the worst fires in years. Swathes of the remote region bordering Bolivia have been scorched by the blazes, sending thick smoke billowing into the sky and increasing air pollution across the world's largest rainforest. Experts say increased land clearing during the months-long dry season to make way for crops or grazing has aggravated the problem this year. "It gets worse every year this year, the smoke has been really serious," Deliana Amorim, 46, told AFP in Porto Velho where half a million people live. At least seven states, including Rondonia, have requested the army's help in the Amazon, where more than 43,000 troops are based and available to combat fires, officials said. The fires have triggered a global outcry and are a major topic of concern at the G7 meeting in Biarritz in southern France. World leaders at the summit have agreed to help the countries affected by the fires "as fast as possible," French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday. His remarks come amid an escalating war of words with his Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro, who he has accused of lying over Brazil's stance on climate change. Bolsonaro has denounced what he calls Macron's "colonialist mentality." Trade deal at risk The fires threaten to torpedo a huge trade agreement between the European Union and South American countries, including Brazil, that took 20 years to negotiate. Pope Francis on Sunday also voiced concern for the rainforest, which he described as a "vital" lung for the planet. The latest official figures show 79,513 forest fires have been recorded in Brazil this year, the highest number of any year since 2013. More than half of the fires are in the massive Amazon basin, where more than 20 million people live. Some 1,130 new fires were ignited between Friday and Saturday, according to Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE). The new data come as protesters plan to take to the streets across Brazil on Sunday after thousands held demonstrations in the country and Europe on Friday.

Brazil's army fights Amazon fires after hundreds of new blazes ignite

Pope Francis on Sunday called for a global commitment to put out the fires in the Amazon, saying the area was essential for the health of the planet.

"We are all worried about the vast fires that have developed in the Amazon. Let us pray so that with the commitment of all, they can be put out soon. That lung of forests is vital for our planet," he told thousands of people in St. Peter's Square for his weekly address.

The Amazon is the world's largest <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-of-new-fires-in-brazil-as-outrage-over-amazon-grows-245400">tropical rainforest</a> and its protection is seen as vital to the fight against climate change because of the vast amounts of carbon dioxide it absorbs.

Meanwhile, official data showed on Saturday that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazilian-states-ask-for-military-help-as-amazon-fires-rage-245444">hundreds of new fires</a> are raging in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil as thousands of troops were made available to help fight the worst blazes in years following a global outcry.&nbsp;

Multiple fires billowing huge plumes of smoke into the air were seen across a vast area of the northwestern state of Rondonia on Friday when AFP journalists flew over the area.&nbsp;

Official figures show 78,383 forest fires have been recorded in Brazil this year, the highest number of any year since 2013. Experts say the clearing of land during the monthslong dry season to make way for crops or grazing, has aggravated the problem.&nbsp;

More than half of the fires are in the massive Amazon basin, where more than 20 million people live. Some 1,663 new fires were ignited between Thursday and Friday, according to Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE).&nbsp;

Seven states, including Rondonia, have requested the army's help in the Amazon, where more than 43,000 troops are based and available to combat fires, officials said. Firefighters and planes are also being deployed.&nbsp;

Six aircraft, including two Hercules C-130s equipped to carry 12,000 liters (3,170 gallons) of water each, have been sent to Rondonia to fight the fires. They are expected to be joined by 30 firefighters on Sunday.

Pope Francis on Sunday called for a global commitment to put out the fires in the Amazon, saying the area was essential for the health of the planet. "We are all worried about the vast fires that have developed in the Amazon.

Pope Francis on Sunday called for a global commitment to put out the fires in the Amazon, saying the area was essential for the health of the planet. "We are all worried about the vast fires that have developed in the Amazon. Let us pray so that with the commitment of all, they can be put out soon. That lung of forests is vital for our planet," he told thousands of people in St. Peter's Square for his weekly address. The Amazon is the world's largest tropical rainforest and its protection is seen as vital to the fight against climate change because of the vast amounts of carbon dioxide it absorbs. Meanwhile, official data showed on Saturday that hundreds of new fires are raging in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil as thousands of troops were made available to help fight the worst blazes in years following a global outcry. Multiple fires billowing huge plumes of smoke into the air were seen across a vast area of the northwestern state of Rondonia on Friday when AFP journalists flew over the area. Official figures show 78,383 forest fires have been recorded in Brazil this year, the highest number of any year since 2013. Experts say the clearing of land during the monthslong dry season to make way for crops or grazing, has aggravated the problem. More than half of the fires are in the massive Amazon basin, where more than 20 million people live. Some 1,663 new fires were ignited between Thursday and Friday, according to Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE). Seven states, including Rondonia, have requested the army's help in the Amazon, where more than 43,000 troops are based and available to combat fires, officials said. Firefighters and planes are also being deployed. Six aircraft, including two Hercules C-130s equipped to carry 12,000 liters (3,170 gallons) of water each, have been sent to Rondonia to fight the fires. They are expected to be joined by 30 firefighters on Sunday.

Pope calls for global commitment to put out Amazon fires

Amazon wildfire: Celebs shares old, incorrect images; spreads misinformation.

Amazon wildfire: Celebs shares old, incorrect images; spreads misinformation

Amazon continues to burn; Bolsonaro sends troops to fight fire. Watch video to know more.

Amazon continues to burn; Bolsonaro sends troops to fight fire

Members of Brazil's Mura indigenous tribe painted their bodies with orange-red paint and took up longbows and clubs as they headed into the jungle this week, prepared for battle. Their enemy? The deforestation and destruction of their home, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-protest-across-latin-america-against-bolsonaros-handling-of-amazon-245249">Amazon rainforest</a>.

There are more than 18,000 Mura that live in Amazonas state, the largest and best-preserved state in Brazil's Amazon rainforest, according to data compiled by the non-government organization Instituto Socioambiental.

Members of the tribe showed Reuters an area the size of several football fields near their village, where the forest had been cleared away, leaving a broad dirt hole in the ground pockmarked by the treads of heavy machinery.

"With each passing day, we see the destruction advance: deforestation, invasion, logging," said Handerch Wakana Mura, one of several leaders of a tribal clan of more than 60 people.

"We are sad because the forest is dying at every moment. We feel the climate changing and the world needs the forest."

Indeed, Amazon deforestation has surged 67% in the first seven months of the year from the same period a year ago, according to Brazil space research agency INPE.

This week, the agency said forest fires were up more than 80% in the country year-to-date, hitting their highest point since at least 2013.

Everywhere in the region around the Mura village, pockets of fire were raging.

Environmentalists blame right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, who has called for the development of protected reserves and railed against environmental fines, emboldening loggers and farmers who seek to clear the land, sometimes by setting fires.

Indeed, the clan has not been able to stop the loggers. Deforestation in the area began four years ago, and only last year did authorities chase out loggers and those extracting rocks to build a nearby roadway.

Logging subsequently jumped across the roadway, with a huge area of downed trees visible by drone.

When that abated, the Mura came upon a path through the jungle nearby that had recently been hewn with chainsaws and machetes - a logging path and the first sign of a new area that would be targeted.

This time, the path runs particularly close to a group of Brazil nut trees the clan harvests, a major traditional food source for indigenous people in the area, Handerch Wakana Mura and other tribal leaders say.

The Mura clan plans to fight against loggers and others exploiting the land by filing complaints with the country's environmental enforcement agency and public prosecutors.

They have struggled for nearly 20 years to have the land around their village demarcated as an official indigenous reserve, a move that would bring added protections, Handerch Wakana Mura said.

The clan says it will be a tough battle, with Bolsonaro having vowed not to set aside any more tribal land.

Leader Raimundo Praia Belem Mura, a 73-year-old who has lived on the land his entire life, has vowed to fight to the bitter end.

"For this forest, I will go on until my last drop of blood," he said. 
&nbsp;

Members of Brazil's Mura indigenous tribe painted their bodies with orange-red paint and took up longbows and clubs as they headed into the jungle this week, prepared for battle.

Members of Brazil's Mura indigenous tribe painted their bodies with orange-red paint and took up longbows 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. There are more than 18,000 Mura that live in Amazonas state, the largest and best-preserved state in Brazil's Amazon rainforest, according to data compiled by the non-government organization Instituto Socioambiental. Members of the tribe showed Reuters an area the size of several football fields near their village, where the forest had been cleared away, leaving a broad dirt hole in the ground pockmarked by the treads of heavy machinery. "With each passing day, we see the destruction advance: deforestation, invasion, logging," said Handerch Wakana Mura, one of several leaders of a tribal clan of more than 60 people. "We are sad because the forest is dying at every moment. We feel the climate changing and the world needs the forest." Indeed, Amazon deforestation has surged 67% in the first seven months of the year from the same period a year ago, according to Brazil space research agency INPE. This week, the agency said forest fires were up more than 80% in the country year-to-date, hitting their highest point since at least 2013. Everywhere in the region around the Mura village, pockets of fire were raging. Environmentalists blame right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, who has called for the development of protected reserves and railed against environmental fines, emboldening loggers and farmers who seek to clear the land, sometimes by setting fires. Indeed, the clan has not been able to stop the loggers. Deforestation in the area began four years ago, and only last year did authorities chase out loggers and those extracting rocks to build a nearby roadway. Logging subsequently jumped across the roadway, with a huge area of downed trees visible by drone. When that abated, the Mura came upon a path through the jungle nearby that had recently been hewn with chainsaws and machetes - a logging path and the first sign of a new area that would be targeted. This time, the path runs particularly close to a group of Brazil nut trees the clan harvests, a major traditional food source for indigenous people in the area, Handerch Wakana Mura and other tribal leaders say. The Mura clan plans to fight against loggers and others exploiting the land by filing complaints with the country's environmental enforcement agency and public prosecutors. They have struggled for nearly 20 years to have the land around their village demarcated as an official indigenous reserve, a move that would bring added protections, Handerch Wakana Mura said. The clan says it will be a tough battle, with Bolsonaro having vowed not to set aside any more tribal land. Leader Raimundo Praia Belem Mura, a 73-year-old who has lived on the land his entire life, has vowed to fight to the bitter end. "For this forest, I will go on until my last drop of blood," he said.

Brazil's indigenous people swear to fight for Amazon 'to last drop of blood'

Amazon rainforests are burning and there is a lot of politics over it. Watch video to know more.

Amazon rainforests are burning and there is a lot of politics over it

The United Nations on Thursday called for the protection of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-amazon-burns-brazils-jair-bolsonaro-tells-rest-of-world-not-to-interfere-244909">fire-ravaged Amazon rainforest</a> and said he was "deeply concerned" by the fires.&nbsp;

"In the midst of the global climate crisis, we cannot afford more damage to a major source of oxygen and biodiversity," UN chief Antonio Guterres said on Twitter.

"The Amazon must be protected."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I’m deeply concerned by the fires in the Amazon rainforest. In the midst of the global climate crisis, we cannot afford more damage to a major source of oxygen and biodiversity. 
 
The Amazon must be protected.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) <a href="https://twitter.com/antonioguterres/status/1164586391629705216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Official figures show nearly 73,000 forest fires were recorded in Brazil in the first eight months of the year -- the highest number for any year since 2013. Most were in the Amazon.

The extent of the area damaged by fires has yet to be determined, but smoke has choked Sao Paulo and several other Brazilian cities in the past week.

Meanwhile, France's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazon-rainforest-fires-our-house-is-on-fire-says-macron-ahead-of-g7-summit-244910">President Emmanuel Macron said the wildfires were "an international crisis"</a> and called on the globe's most industrialised nations to address it at the G7 this weekend.

"Our house is on fire. Literally. The Amazon, the lung of our planet which produces 20 per cent of our oxygen is burning," Macron said on Twitter.&nbsp;

"It is an international crisis. Members of the G7, let's talk in two days about this emergency."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Our house is burning. Literally. The Amazon rain forest - the lungs which produces 20% of our planet’s oxygen - is on fire. It is an international crisis. Members of the G7 Summit, let's discuss this emergency first order in two days! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ActForTheAmazon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ActForTheAmazon</a> <a href="https://t.co/dogOJj9big">pic.twitter.com/dogOJj9big</a>
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1164617008962527232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2019</a></blockquote>
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That did not sit well with Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro.

"The French president's suggestion that Amazon issues be discussed at the G-7 without participation by the countries in the region evokes a colonialist mentality that is out of place in the 21st century," Bolsonaro wrote on Twitter.

Neighboring Peru, which contains much of the Amazon basin, announced it was "on alert" for wildfires spreading from the rainforest in Brazil and Bolivia.

Paraguay and Bolivia are battling separate wildfires that have devastated large areas of their rainforests.

(With inputs from agencies)

The United Nations on Thursday called for the protection of the fire-ravaged Amazon rainforest and said he was "deeply concerned" by the fires. "In the midst of the global climate crisis, we cannot afford more damage to a major source of oxygen and biodiversity," UN chief Antonio Guterres said on Twitter.

The United Nations on Thursday called for the protection of the fire-ravaged Amazon rainforest and said he was "deeply concerned" by the fires. "In the midst of the global climate crisis, we cannot afford more damage to a major source of oxygen and biodiversity," UN chief Antonio Guterres said on Twitter. "The Amazon must be protected." I’m deeply concerned by the fires in the Amazon rainforest. In the midst of the global climate crisis, we cannot afford more damage to a major source of oxygen and biodiversity. The Amazon must be protected. — António Guterres (@antonioguterres) August 22, 2019 × Official figures show nearly 73,000 forest fires were recorded in Brazil in the first eight months of the year -- the highest number for any year since 2013. Most were in the Amazon. The extent of the area damaged by fires has yet to be determined, but smoke has choked Sao Paulo and several other Brazilian cities in the past week. Meanwhile, France's President Emmanuel Macron said the wildfires were "an international crisis" and called on the globe's most industrialised nations to address it at the G7 this weekend. "Our house is on fire. Literally. The Amazon, the lung of our planet which produces 20 per cent of our oxygen is burning," Macron said on Twitter. "It is an international crisis. Members of the G7, let's talk in two days about this emergency." Our house is burning. Literally. The Amazon rain forest - the lungs which produces 20% of our planet’s oxygen - is on fire. It is an international crisis. Members of the G7 Summit, let's discuss this emergency first order in two days! #ActForTheAmazon pic.twitter.com/dogOJj9big — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 22, 2019 × That did not sit well with Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro. "The French president's suggestion that Amazon issues be discussed at the G-7 without participation by the countries in the region evokes a colonialist mentality that is out of place in the 21st century," Bolsonaro wrote on Twitter. Neighboring Peru, which contains much of the Amazon basin, announced it was "on alert" for wildfires spreading from the rainforest in Brazil and Bolivia. Paraguay and Bolivia are battling separate wildfires that have devastated large areas of their rainforests. (With inputs from agencies)

UN chief calls for protection of Amazon rainforest; says can't afford more damage to source of oxygen

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