Deforestation does not thick reached around 659 thousand hectares in 2022. The index represents an increase of 32.4% compared to the previous year, when 498 thousand hectares were deforested. The data from MapBiomas Alerta, published in the Annual Report on Deforestation in Brazil (RAD), were released by the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM).
This is the largest deforested area recorded by MapBiomas Alerta in the Cerrado since the beginning of monitoring by the project in 2019, according to Ipam. The total area deforested in 2022 in the biome represents almost a third of the suppression of native vegetation in the country (32.1%).
In the Cerrado, Bahia was the state that deforested the most last year, with more than 157,000 hectares deforested, an increase of 67.8% compared to 2021. Maranhão, which topped the list in 2020 and 2021, deforested around 152 thousand hectares and was in second place. In Piauí, deforestation increased by 137% compared to 2021, the largest increase among all states, totaling around 136 thousand hectares deforested.
The survey also shows that it is in the Matopiba region – made up of areas in the States of Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí and Bahia – that most of the deforestation in the Cerrado is concentrated, around 77.7%. More than 512,000 hectares were deforested last year, reported Ipam.
Around 708 municipalities in the Cerrado registered at least one deforestation event in 2022 and the list of the 10 largest deforesters is dominated by cities in western Bahia, southern Maranhão and southwest Piauí, located in the Matopiba region.
The municipality of São Desidério, in western Bahia, one of the main producers of soy and cotton in Brazil, leads the ranking, having deforested more than 36 thousand hectares last year. Formosa do Rio Preto (33,416 ha), Balsas (27,854 ha), Uruçuí (23,745 ha) and Jaborandi (20,665 ha), complete the top five positions in the ranking.
Ipam researcher Roberta Rocha said in the statement that “this region is home to large producers of soy, corn and cotton. This scenario, together with the expansion of new areas for agriculture and pasture, and the lack of inspection actions by environmental agencies, contributes to the concentration of deforestation in this region. This destruction of native vegetation has impacts on biodiversity, on the supply of water bodies and on traditional communities, which need a balanced environment.”
The report also points out that almost 99% of the deforestation detected in the Cerrado shows some evidence of irregularities. The observation was made by crossing data from deforestation authorizations with the coordinates of legal reserves, permanent protection areas, springs and protected areas. Only 1.2% of alerts did not show irregularities.
Ipam researcher, Dhemerson Conciani, explained in the note that “to reduce deforestation in the Cerrado, we need integrated actions through the strengthening of command and control bodies, in addition to expanding inspection and implementing severe punishments against land grabbers and deforesters. illegal, leading to fines and the embargo of these areas”.
The researcher also highlighted the need for more efficient action to protect the Cerrado and its inhabitants, as well as the need for clear positions from the private sector.
Source: CNN Brasil
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