Brazil's Amazon sees worst 6 months of wildfires in 20 years

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🗞️ Driving the news: Brazil's Amazon experienced its worst first six months of wildfires in 20 years, with 13,489 wildfires reported, a 61% increase from last year
• The Pantanal wetlands also saw unprecedented fire activity with 3,538 wildfires, a more than 2000% increase compared to the previous year

🔭 The context: Climate change has made parts of the Amazon and Pantanal drier and more susceptible to wildfires
• This year, the Pantanal faces its worst drought in over 70 years, exacerbated by climate change and a significant El Niño event

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The increase in wildfires threatens biodiversity, contributes to carbon emissions, and worsens climate change
• These fires destroy critical habitats for species like jaguars, caimans, and giant otters, and disrupt ecological balances in these vital ecosystems

⏭️ What's next: Continued monitoring and urgent climate action are needed to address the root causes of these wildfires
• Effective mitigation strategies and international cooperation are essential to protect these vital ecosystems

💬 One quote: "The environment is drier, and thus vegetation is more dried out and more vulnerable to fires," said Romulo Batista, spokesperson for Greenpeace Brazil

📈 One stat: The Amazon saw 13,489 wildfires in the first half of 2024, up more than 61% compared to the same period last year

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