For the past several years, Colombia's Tinigua National Natural Park has been racked by one of the highest levels of deforestation of any such protected area in the country.
More than 120 major fires have been detected in Bolivia since August, more than a quarter of them in protected areas, including a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Indigenous people say the fires “came from outside” and “destroyed everything,” including the food and medicinal plants that form an important part of their culture.
Brazilian Amazon deforestation rates have stayed below their 2003 peak, despite recent increases. However, this decline was offset by a trend of increased forest degradation.
For three decades, INPE, Brazil’s civilian space agency has successfully and publicly monitored Amazon deforestation and fires. Now Jair Bolsonaro is intent on giving the job over to the secretive Brazilian military.
