In an interview with CNN biologist and researcher Lucas Ferrante, from USP and the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM), warned about the critical situation of fires in the Amazon.
According to him, the Public Ministry needs to “intervene immediately” to contain the spread of arson in the region.
According to data from Copernicus, the European Union’s Earth observation program, a specific area of the Amazon has become the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the last five days.
Ferrante explains that this concentration of fires is occurring mainly on the axis of highways 163, 364, 230 (Transamazônica) and BR-319, which connects Porto Velho to Manaus.
Impacts of fires
The researcher highlights that these fires are generating an alarming amount of emissions, affecting not only the Amazon region, but also neighboring countries and other regions of Brazil.
“This smoke is already spreading to Peru and Bolivia,” warns Ferrante.
Furthermore, the biologist emphasized the fundamental role of the Amazon in regulating the global climate.
He criticizes the recent service order from President Lula (PT) to advance works on lot C of the BR-319 highway, a section that, according to Ferrante, has neither consultation with indigenous peoples nor adequate environmental licensing.
Concern about BR-319
Ferrante presents data from a joint study carried out with the Management and Operational Center of the Amazon Protection System (Censipam), which involves members of the Federal Police (PF) and the Brazilian Army.
Research indicates that if the BR-319 highway is paved, there will not be enough personnel in Brazil to monitor fires and deforestation in the region.
The researcher also mentions a 400% increase in malaria cases on the middle stretch of the highway, in addition to the worsening of fires.
He concludes by warning that the construction of the highway has generated several problems for the Amazon, going beyond the environmental issue and directly affecting public health.
This content was originally published in “MP needs to intervene in fires in the Amazon”, researcher tells CNN on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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