Deforestation in Conservation Units rises by 312% in May

Data from the Deter system of the National Institute for Space Research reveals that deforestation in Conservation Units (UCs) rose by 312% in May 2021, when compared to the same month in 2020. The area lost was of 11,296 hectares of forest in 2021 — over three times more than in 2020, when 741 hectares were destroyed.

The protected areas are under the responsibility of Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity (ICMBio), which has suffered with budget cuts, militarization of key positions, and the weakening of its monitoring role under the administration of Minister Ricardo Salles. The institute has now 1,5 thousand open positions, with no provision for a public contest.