Wildfires in the Amazon rainforest in northern Brazil have ignited a firestorm on social media, with President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday suggesting green groups started the blazes. Images of fires purportedly devouring sections of the world's largest rainforest have gone viral on Twitter. "
Salvador - Wildfires in the Amazon rainforest in northern Brazil have ignited a firestorm on social media, with President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday suggesting green groups started the blazes.
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. But the WWF has blamed this year's sharp increase on accelerating deforestation in the Amazon, which is seen as crucial to keeping climate change in check.
The 25th UN Conference on Climate Change was originally planned for Brazil, but the country pulled out, citing impossible objectives."The fires are the consequence of a policy of environmental devastation, of support for agribusiness, of increasing pastures," Camila Veiga of the Brazilian Association of NGOs told AFP.
"Unfortunately both the states and the federal government suffer because of the economic crisis, budget cuts, which hinders... enforcement operations."
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Brazil president says nongovernmental organizations could be setting Amazon firesBrazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is suggesting that nongovernmental organizations could be to blame for an unusually high number of wildfires in the Amazon.
Read more »
Amazon burning: Brazil reports record forest firesWildfires raging in the Amazon rainforest have hit a record number this year, wi...
Read more »
The Amazon Rainforest in Brazil Is Burning, and You Can See the Damage from SpaceHere's how you can help the rainforest, even if you don't live in Brazil.
Read more »
Raging rainforest fires darken skies in Brazil, inspire #prayforamazoniaA record level of fires in Brazil’s Amazon region has been linked to an increase in deforestation, inspiring a prayforamazonia social media campaign to bring awareness to the blazes destroying the rainforest.
Read more »
Brazil securities regulator ramps up Vale dam disaster probeBrazil's securities regulator CVM said on Monday it has opened up an additi...
Read more »
Exclusive: Philips, under investigation in U.S. and Brazil, fired whistleblower who warned of graftHealthcare giant Philips was warned of suspicious sales of its medical equipment...
Read more »