Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 18 september 2019

Brazil's environmental workers tell of decline before fires

By DIANE JEANTET in the field. On-the-ground
Associated Press operations carried out by
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — As Ibama agents from Janu-
fires burn across the Brazil- ary through April declined
ian Amazon, the vast state 58% from the same period
of Amazonas has been last year, according to of-
among the hardest hit, with ficial data obtained by
more than 6,600 blazes re- the Brazilian group Climate
corded in August, 2 1/2 Observatory. The decline
times more than the same began under the previous
month a year ago. government in 2018, when
Yet official documents operations were down 23%
seen by The Associated but accelerated this year.
Press show that Brazil's gov- Prosecutors in the north-
ernment has begun legal eastern state of Para,
procedures to transfer all which borders Amazonas,
employees out of three of are investigating the link
the state's four federal en- between the decline in Ib-
vironmental protection of- ama's activities and the rise
fices, which are in charge in fires this year, which have
of defending the rainforest broken out at a pace not
from deforestation, land seen since 2010.
grabbing and illegal fires. In this Aug. 27, 2019 file photo, Kayapo indigenous members of PREVFOGO, a group that combats Federal prosecutor Ricar-
and helps to prevent fires, pause after working on the Bau indigenous reserve in Altamira in Brazil's
It's part of a broader ero- Amazon where fires are burning. do Negrini said authorities
sion of the Brazilian Institute Associated Press failed to act when his of-
of the Environment and Re- fice warned of reports that
newable Natural Resourc- areas and faster response speech expected to focus Bolsonaro has also accused farmers in Para had called
es, known by its Portuguese times in the country's most on the Amazon, which he non-governmental groups for "a day of fire" to ignite
initials as Ibama, whose extensive state. larger than says was "ignored" by previ- of inefficiency and trying multiple blazes Aug. 10.
field operations appear Texas, California and Mon- ous administrations. to stifle Brazil's economy by Ibama told prosecutors it
to have declined sharply tana combined. His administration argues preventing development in wasn't able to intervene
since the early part of this Ibama agents often that the lack of economic the region. because police forces in
year. The agency's fund- plunge deep into the jun- opportunities and cumber- The president also is no big the state had been refus-
ing for discretionary spend- gle aboard helicopters or some red tape in the Ama- fan of Ibama and its en- ing to offer security. Ibama
ing and enforcement op- boats, wearing bulletproof zon region contributes to forcement actions, com- agents have sometimes
erations this year faces a vests and carrying arms to rampant illegal deforesta- plaining that an "industry of been met with gunfire
24% cut, a significant blow confront illegal loggers or tion. It says the region can fines" has slowed econom- when confronting illegal
to what two experts de- ranchers who cut away the be protected while allow- ic development in Latin loggers and miners.
scribed as an already small forest and then set fires to ing far more development America's largest nation. Negrini said he found that
budget. clear the land. than conservationists be- "I will no longer allow Ib- state police had declined
The budget decrease The sharp increase in fires lieve is safe. ama to distribute fines right, to escort Ibama agents
came as part of a wider this year has roused glob- Bolsonaro has sent troops left and center," Bolsonaro for months despite a long-
austerity push by President al concern because the to aid in fighting the blazes said before taking office. standing tradition of coop-
Jair Bolsonaro, who took of- Amazon rainforest acts as and banned fires to clear There is a personal edge to eration between the two
fice Jan. 1 and is seeking to a bulwark against climate land in the Amazon for 60 the issue: He was fined by bodies. Documents seen
rein in spending by Brazil's fi- change. Its lush vegetation days. the agency years ago for by AP show that police
nancially strapped govern- absorbs heat-trapping car- But the president has fishing in a protected area. forces denied six requests
ment. But critics note that bon dioxide and the mois- fiercely resisted efforts to Bolsonaro and Environment from Ibama in June and
he has also complained ture given off by its trees treat the Amazon as a Minister Ricardo Salles have July.
that environmental regula- affects rainfall patterns and global issue, notably clash- also talked of ending Ib- In the documents, police
tions hinder development climate across South Amer- ing with French President ama's legal authority to say the lack of an official
in the Amazon. ica and beyond. Emmanuel Macron, who burn heavy equipment be- cooperation agreement
Ibama staffers say the re- Boslonaro told reporters he told his Brazilian counter- ing used by illegal loggers. prevented them from join-
gional offices are critical to would attend the upcom- part during the peak of the Critics say the top-level ing such operations, though
their jobs, giving them clos- ing U.N. General Assembly fires: "We cannot allow you skepticism and budget Negrini said that had not
er knowledge of problem in September to deliver a to destroy everything." cuts are having an impact been an issue in the past.q