Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro claimed Friday that news warning about the Amazon's irreparable devastation is a "nuisance," a day after his government's official estimations indicated unprecedented deforestation in 15 years.
"Is there illegal deforestation? There is. It is enough that other countries do not buy our wood, it's simple," said the president in his weekly live broadcast on social networks.
"Is there illegal burning? There are, but not in that proportion that some people say. And we fight them. Some say 'you have to fight them more'... do you know the size of the Amazon, how many countries in Europe fit in the Amazon?" he added.
Bolsonaro made no direct reference to statistics issued Thursday by the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), which estimated 13,235 km2 of deforestation between August 2020 and July 2021, a 22 percent raise over the previous period and the worst levels in 15 years.
He did, however, denounce what he deems "lies" regarding the devastation of the Amazon, 60 percent of which is in Brazil.
"While we strive like bastards to bring a good image of Brazil abroad, lousy Brazilians come out to criticize the country, to tell lies about the Amazon," said the president.
"Look at this article: 'The Amazon is close to an irreversible point and may turn into a desert'. It is the same old annoyance. Articles mostly sponsored by Brazilians working against their country," he added.
The increase in deforestation in the 2020-2021 period, the third yearly increase during the Bolsonaro administration, throws into doubt Brazil's goal to reverse this trend and abolish illegal deforestation by 2028, made at the most recent UN climate change conference, COP26.
The government is also accused of purposefully delaying the publication of the data until after COP26 to avoid more international condemnation, which blames it for supporting these increases by decreasing control in the biome and pushing extractive operations in protected areas.
According to scientists, some locations in the world are vulnerable to crucial moments, turning points that can alter the entire planet's environment.
The Amazon rainforest might undergo "savanization," which would have long-term consequences for the planet's ability to recycle CO2.
