What is happening in the Amazon rainforests?
Recently, Brazilian environmental officials used machetes to chop through the Amazon rainforest in search of criminals. This is the first operation to stop deforestation under new President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Lula has promised to end deforestation in the Amazon by 2030. The Amazon rainforest suffered greatly under former president, Jair Bolsonaro. He had signed laws allowing agriculture and mining in the forest.
The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) carried out operations to stop loggers and ranchers from illegally cutting the forest.
How were the raids conducted?
A dozen police officers and 10 IBAMA agents drove to various locations. Images from these places revealed that loggers and ranchers were destroying the forest. The convoy visited five locations.
Deforestation is banned in all of these areas. The agents discovered a newly built house containing numerous chainsaws and a large amount of food. This showed that the people living there left just before IBAMA arrived.
IBAMA officials and police officers also discovered a site which was covered with trees that had been cut down (oh no!). President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said that the agency will return with a helicopter to catch the criminals by surprise.
What is IBAMA?
IBAMA is a Brazilian organisation formed in 1989 to protect the environment. Its goal is to protect Brazil's natural resources. It is a federal agency under the Brazilian Ministry of Environment.
It also keeps an eye on the use of natural resources such as water, flora and fauna, and soil. The organisation also fines anyone who breaks the country's environmental laws. IBAMA also aims to protect the Amazon rainforest from loggers, illegal farming, and other threats.
What did we learn from this article?
We learned that saving the Amazon rainforest is important. The rainforest is home to various plants and animals. It also helps to clean the air we breathe. It is known as the "Lungs of the Earth" because it absorbs and stores a large amount of carbon dioxide, reducing the effects of climate change.
Let’s hope the Brazilian government and IBAMA are able to protect the Amazon rainforest.
