Fire and Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon

Fire and Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon

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September 9, 2019
Fire and Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon
Media coverage of fires in the Brazilian Amazon forest is
burn agriculture. Burning plant and woody debris transfers
widespread. According to stakeholders, this media coverage
nutrients to poor tropical soils and facilitates land clearing.
is largely due to an increase in fire events and deforestation
These intentionally set fires can spread beyond their
rates in the region this year compared to the past years, as
intended perimeters into virgin forests and neighboring
well as statements made by Brazilian President Jair
fields. Fires in pristine forests are largely low-lying, and
Bolsonaro indicating his intent to pursue development in
they mainly affect the cambium layer of the bark of larger
the region.
trees and consumes understory saplings and seedlings.
Figure 1. Map of the Legal Brazilian Amazon
These types of fires can cause tree damage or mortality in
rainforest ecosystems. Excess tree mortality creates gaps in
the forest, which can alter the ecosystem and increase the
susceptibility of forests to more severe future fires. The
extent and spread of fires in the Amazon can also be
exacerbated by droughts or long-term reductions in
precipitation and moisture. For example, an El Niño event
(i.e., typically less precipitation) can increase the
susceptibility, severity, and extent of some fires.
Many observers are concerned about fires in the Brazilian
Amazon this year because the number of fire hotspots—
burning activity detected by satellite—in the Brazilian
Amazon are higher than they were at this time in the last
several years (Figure 2.) The number of hotspots in the
Legal Brazilian Amazon in 2019 through September 6 is
approximately 60% more than in 2018, according to
satellite data. However, over the past 20 years (1999-2018),
the number of hotspots in the Brazilian Amazon observed

through September 6 are approximately equal to the
Source: Compiled from satel ite data provided by the Instituto
average of 66,847 hotspots during the same period and
Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE) by CRS, September 2019.
approximately half of the peak number of hotspots in that
Notes: Dots are locations of hotspots and do not indicate size of
period in 2005. August is early in the burning season, the
fires. The Legal Brazilian Amazon is a defined area under Brazilian law
number of fires has historically risen through September
that comprises nine states that contain the Amazon forest.
and October in the Brazilian Amazon.
The Amazon forest (Amazon) extends through several
Figure 2. Fire Hotspots in the Legal Brazilian Amazon
countries in South America, including Peru, Bolivia, and
Annually Through September 6 of Each Year
Colombia, with approximately 62% of the Amazon located
in Brazil (Figure 1). The Amazon is estimated to contain
one-half of all global terrestrial carbon in tropical forests
and consists of approximately 40% of all remaining tropical
rainforests, according to scientific studies. The fate of the
Amazon is a concern for many because of the biodiversity it
hosts, its role in the global carbon cycle, and its effect on
regional climate. Some scientists claim that 20%-25%
deforestation in the Amazon can cause it to shift to a non-
forest ecosystem, exacerbating the concerns above.
Fire in the Amazon
Humans intentionally set the majority of fires in the
Amazon, largely for agricultural purposes. Most of the fires
in the Brazilian Amazon are set every year from
approximately July to October to burn recently cleared trees
and woody debris, crop residue, overgrown pastures, and

roadside vegetation. This is done to prepare land for
Source: Data from INPE, September 2019.
pastures and crops and is typically referred to as slash and
Fire hotspots in the Amazon are calculated from satellite
data, which cannot determine the size of individual fires;
detect fires under the tree canopy; or distinguish if burning
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Fire and Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon
is on pastures, cropland, or cleared forests. However,
Brazilian governments have long rejected the notion that
scientists assert that most fires are burning in previously
the Amazon is a global public good. They have stressed
cleared areas and not virgin forest.
Brazil’s sovereignty over the Brazilian Amazon and the
country’s right to develop the region in accordance with its
Deforestation in the Amazon
national interests. President Bolsonaro initially dismissed
Incidences and extent of fire in the Brazilian Amazon is
concerns about the fires, and he asserted that President
linked to drought and deforestation, according to scientists.
Macron’s decision to discuss the situation at the G7 evoked
Studies attribute droughts to high incidences of fire in the
“a colonialist mentality.” Bolsonaro also initially rejected
Brazilian Amazon in 2007 and 2010. In recent years, rates
the G7’s assistance. Nevertheless, international pressure
of deforestation have been fairly steady (Figure 1),
appears to have spurred Bolsonaro to action; he has
although from July to August 2019, approximately 13,000
deployed 40,000 Brazilian troops to the Amazon to combat
km2 of the Brazilian Amazon was deforested, which is
the fires, decreed a 60-day ban on burning, and accepted
higher than the total amount of deforestation in the last
some international assistance.
several years. This has led several observers to assert that
The United States provides development assistance to
the amount of deforestation in 2019 could be one of the
Brazil for conservation efforts, primarily through the U.S.
highest annual amounts in several years.
Agency for International Development (USAID) and U.S.
Cattle ranching, logging, and large-scale agriculture are the
Forest Service. In FY2019, Congress appropriated $11
main drivers of deforestation in the Amazon. Some
million for Brazilian Amazon environmental programs,
economists have linked changes in deforestation rates to
which is available for conservation projects; encouraging
international demand for Brazilian agricultural
the private sector to improve sustainable livelihoods for the
commodities. Other researchers contend that government
Amazon communities; and using science and technology to
policies explain some variation in deforestation rates. They
improve conservation practices, among other activities. The
note that a decline in the rate of deforestation in the
United States also conducted a debt-for-nature swap with
Brazilian Amazon after 2005 corresponded with an
Brazil under the authority of the Tropical Forest
expansion of protected areas, increased monitoring, and
Conservation Act (22 U.S.C. §§2431, et seq.), which
more rigorous enforcement of environmental laws.
generated an estimated $21 million in conservation funds
from 2010 to 2015.
Figure 3. Annual Deforestation in the Legal Amazon
Some European governments have suspended assistance to
Brazil due to concerns about the Bolsonaro
Administration’s lack of commitment to reducing
deforestation and fires. In August 2019, for example,
Germany and Norway announced the suspension of $72
million intended for Brazil’s Amazon Fund, which finances
conservation and sustainable development efforts.
Several governments are also considering using trade policy
to exert pressure on Brazil. Finland, for example, raised the
possibility of the European Union (EU) banning imports of
Brazilian beef while other countries threatened to block a
proposed trade agreement between the EU and the Southern
Common Market (Mercosur), which includes Brazil,
Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Some Members of

Congress have expressed interest in legislation that would
Source: PRODES data from INPE, accessed August 30, 2019. In km2.
ban certain imports from Brazil, freeze targeted aid to
As the current Brazilian Administration has backed away
Brazil, and prevent a free trade agreement with Brazil until
from some of those efforts and commodity prices have risen
the country addresses environmental concerns.
for Brazilian products, deforestation is increasing in 2019,
Private companies are also facing pressure to address
according to some observers. Further, some observers also
speculated that Bolsonaro’s statements about increasing
deforestation. In 2006, most major soybean traders signed
an agreement not to purchase soybeans grown on Amazon
development in the Amazon is encouraging deforestation
lands deforested after 2006. Some companies have
activities.
responded to the fires in a similar fashion, halting purchases
International Response
of leather and other products from Brazil while they attempt
Some governments have expressed alarm over the fires in
to verify that their supply chains do not contribute to
the Amazon. French President Emmanuel Macron declared
deforestation.
the situation “an international crisis,” and incorporated it
into the agenda of the August 2019 Group of Seven (G7)
Pervaze A. Sheikh, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
summit. Several G7 governments ultimately pledged $20
Peter J. Meyer, Specialist in Latin American Affairs
million to combat the fires. The United States, which
Kezee Procita, Senior Research Librarian
offered assistance to Brazil separately, did not support the
Katie Hoover, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
initiative because President Bolsonaro had not been
consulted.
IF11306
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Fire and Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon

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