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Portuguese ForestsOur forests used to be vast pine woods, and also olive tree and oaks in some areas. Nature, identity, sustainability and beauty. But due to an agressive and corrupt paper and timber industry, our once beautiful and balanced pine forests were massively destroyed to plant eucalyptus, which dries and destroys all the ecossystem around, and has a much higher risk of forest fire, due to the dryness caused by the eucalyptus invasion. This, the death of our native forest, and the sick invasion of an alien tree, just for the selfish profit of a few. Less and less the beautiful pine lining on the horizon, and more the sad and ugly, destroyer eucalyptus.The eucalyptus is a native tree from Australia and Tasmania, which began to be introduced in Portugal, around 1850-70, for economic reasons. Its rapid growth, strength and adaptability to climates, dictated to his plantation on a large scale, at a time when the needs of rapidly growing cities and consume patterns, began to put more forest as income source, ahead of sustainability.Eucalyptus was considered more productive than oak and pine. Thus in Portugal, vast areas of pine and oak woods have been replaced by eucalyptus trees. Of course, all this has profoundly altered the landscape and the balance of ecosystems present. Eucalyptus continues to be noted for their attractive products and as rapid growth, carbon dioxide fixation, oxygen and medicinal properties (this being advocated by governments, wood and cellulose industries, etc), but the spread of this species was not controlled, forever disturbing the natural balance of native species. It is now known that the eucalyptus forest aggressively compete with native species and tends to overlap harming local ecosystems irreversibly.Portugal witnessed in the last century to a wide litoralization of the population. The territory within the countryside where many of these eucalyptus forests exist today, has much less population today. Thus lessen the maintenance of forest areas and the preservation of other species. This abandonment joins one inadequate forest planning. The eucalyptus intensive regimen favors the occurrence of fires. Eucalyptus trees are more prone to the spread of fires (especially drier areas where native vegetation has been almost greatly replaced by eucalyptus trees). Simultaneously, this tree is highly resistant to fire. The remaining forest is reduced to ashes, while the singed but alive eucalyptus trunk, with its deep roots, will again flourish. Studies and records of forest fires in Portugal, show that the fires increased exponentially as the planting of eucalyptus progressed. Many of these plantations occur in mountainous areas, and hence difficult to access when it comes to fighting fires.There is no doubt that the country witnessed in recent decades a massive forest degradation and increased poverty of forest diversity.According to Quercus - National Association for Nature Conservation, the government approved a new afforestation and reforestation scheme to favor only the cellulose and the row of eucalyptus, undermining the diversity of Portuguese forests and committing other economic ranks, as the cork oak or pine "to introduce permissive laws as ace species to be planted in smaller plots. and this type of property existm the thousands in Portugal. Of course the overwhelming part of the landowners will plant eucalyptus. More eucalyptus, only for revenue. Simultaneously, we witnessed the destruction of the Portuguese pine forest, which is today half of what it was 50 years ago. Recent statistics say that 80% of new forest plantations in the past 15 months are of eucalyptus. The eucalyptus forest grew widely in the last half century. A non-native tree, which has become the dominant tree in Portugal. Until now, only the support of the Common Agricultural Policy, and few other factors prevented the national forest of becoming a monoculture of eucalyptus. The National Strategy for Forestry and the Regional Forestry Management Plans foresaw management mechanisms to create afforestation based on diversity, and measures of maintenance and protection against fires, but these plans are now on hold. This, along with the permissiveness of present laws will only accelerate the process of the domain of eucalyptus in Portuguese territory, irreversibly degrading ecosystems, creating a dramatic disaster for nature and for us all.Sources (in Portuguese): http://www.geopalavras.pt/2013/11/historia-do-eucalipto-em-portugal.htmlIn english: The Eucalypt Invasion of Portugal

Having lived in the “bush” for years, the only way these fires are going to go out is when they exhaust themselves.That’s it, pure and simple…_________________________________________________________________________________The reason for these current catastrophic Fires is explained below and it is not "Climate Change/Wealth Redistribution".Fuelling the bushThe short video in the blog above is seriously worth a look._________________________________________________________________________________Another take and a WARNING made in 2006 of the catastrophic fires to come.Pilliga Forest BurnsPilliga Forest BurnsDecember 1, 2006Large areas of Pilliga scrub are burning right now in central western NSW with large koala populations threatened.The forests were declared national park less than 18 months ago, with many timber workers losing their jobs*. At the time the timber workers warned that unless National Parks and Wildlife officers maintained fire breaks and control burnt the entire forest could convert back to grassland.Today a new group, the NSW Private Native Forestry Group put out a media release about forests and fires with particular reference to the fires now burning in the Pilliga:“With predictions that this summer will see the worst bushfires in the state’s recorded history, farmers and foresters are warning that further government restrictions on the management of forests on private land will dramatically increase the threat and severity of bushfires.“It’s time the NSW Government knew what farmers and foresters have known for decades: sustainable management of forests reduces the risk of catastrophic bushfires,” said Andrew Hurford, forester and spokesperson of the NSW Private Native Forests Group.“Farmers and foresters help to reduce the frequency and intensity of bushfires by managing dangerous fuel loads that accumulate on the forest floor before they become a problem. We also play a crucial role in maintaining fire trails so that firefighters can access remote areas quickly.“Farmers and foresters are the best ‘frontline of defence’ against bushfires: we are the ‘eyes and ears’ of the forest, helping to put out fires as soon as they occur. It’s in our best interests to protect these forests from catastrophic wild fires,” said Mr Hurford.Mr Hurford said that radical green groups would have politicians believe that the policy of ‘Fence and Forget’ is the best way to conserve native forests on private land: a theory that totally ignores the fact that Aboriginals actively managed Australia’s bushland for thousands of years.“Just look at how this policy has been an absolute disaster for fire management in our National Parks. For example, in the last forty-eight hours, 100,000 hectares of the Pilliga Forest near Coonabarabran in Central West NSW has been incinerated,” said Mr Hurford.“Today, over 8.5 million hectares of private land in NSW (an area larger than Tasmania) are able to be looked after and sustainably managed for timber production by farmers and foresters.“Millions of hectares of native bushland and millions of dollars worth of rural infrastructure, such as fences and sheds, will be incinerated if radical green groups get their way on locking-up private forests,” Mr Hurford said.In August this year, the NSW Government was forced by angry farmers, timber mill owners and workers to shelve its plan to introduce a ‘Code’ that would have seen 60 per cent of forests on private land ‘locked-up’ into de facto National Parks.“Without private landholders, who will be left to safeguard bushland from fires?” said Mr Hurford.The 2003 ‘State of the Environment Report’ for the Australian Capital Territory lists that nearly 6.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide were emitted into the atmosphere during the January 2003 Canberra wildfires: equivalent to 1.6 million new cars on the road for a year.“The radical green policy of ‘Fence and Forget’ will lead to more catastrophic bushfires and more greenhouse gas emissions – the very thing governments are trying to prevent!” said Mr Hurford.The NSW Private Native Forests Group is made up of timber mill owners, forest workers and farmers who harvest timber from private land. The Group is supported by the NSW Forest Products Association, Timber Communities Australia and Australian Forest Grower’s. Private native forestry is the long term and sustainable management of native forests on privately-owned land. The industry employs approximately 3,000 people and generates over $300 million for the NSW regional economy. Around a third of all native forests in NSW (or 8.5 million hectares) are on private land.

The 2019 Amazon fires are merely a hint, the tip of the iceberg, the start, of a formally, repeatedly announced policy for mass deforestation, reserves revocation, and setting up mining, ranching, and commercial agriculture across a deforested Amazon turned to pasture, which will vastly increase world CO₂ emission levels. I am sorry to say the news coming out every day in Brazil is far more alarming than what has been realized abroad. Note the Amazon is approaching a point of no return and that the Amazon stores about 100 year’s worth of US CO₂ [links in italics open news in Portuguese, it’s not for emphasis] emissions. Four fires like this one, and the tipping point is history after which it degrades into grassland: once the jungle is cut the land is only good for pasture, the soil being very poor. He is doing this to pander to international companies and the US, however.Brazil's president is actively trying to devastate the Amazon rainforest, leaked documents show2,000 New Fires in Amazon Despite Brazil's Burning BanFormally announced government plans are to proceed with the devastation, just curbing fires to avoid attracting attention. The measures announced to contain the fires, including sending a handful of military to help fight the fires and a 60 day moratorium on new legal fires, is merely a diversionary measure to appease and distract world leaders. Even after the G7 offer, a Brazil Congress committee OKs commercial farming on indigenous reserves for the first time in history. This is devastating for the reservations, and in practice revokes their preservation status. And soon to be passed also is a law enabling mining on reservations. It’s not like Brazil doesn’t have more than enough land for agriculture already without further deforestation, or unexplored veins for mining. Native tribes are being butchered as you reads this, in a planned genocide and ecocide - which was, in fact, an oft-repeated campaign promise.Deforestation in the Amazon in July grows 278% over the same month in 2018Bolsonaro wants, with Trump, to turn the Amazon into soy, ranches and mining fieldsFormer Funai [native tribe support and agency] president says Bolsonaro wants the extinction of indigenous culturesThe first thing that must be understood is that the current president of Brazil is literally a demented, fascist, Trump’s (and Bannon’s) puppet, a narcodictator (term also used literally) elected by fraud within a US-backed coup which began being planned in 2002 and included an impeachment in 2016 on grounds of a technicality and a fraudulent arrest of the legitimate leader, who had a good environmental track record. Their plan is to hand over the Amazon to the US Republicans as pasture. Not unlike any other demented fascist, he will only be stopped by force or overwhelming pressure: aid was already rejected and the issue spun into a personal spat: don’t fall for it. While it may seem that “A personal spat between the leaders of Brazil and France seemed to dominate the dispute, but it also centered on Brazilian perceptions of alleged interference by Europe on matters of sovereignty”, this is a mere pretext.On the other hand, “internationalizing” its stewardship would make the problem worse, as the only successful anti-deforestation strategy to date (2004–14) involved highly integrated federal, state, and DA action, but everything focused on municipalities, city halls and mayors - personal contact among people who knew each other. What we need is a strong democratic government in place, as we had before the 2016 Coup, and which was doing a remarkable job.Cutting off aid was the correct decision; it’s frankly useless. Minister defends not using money to reforest: ‘it regenerates itself’ and Bolsonaro government wants to give aid money to the environmental criminals themselves so aid will de diverted by the criminals in power to their cronies, and not help the forest.The next few years will require as a minimum strict international oversight of deforestation, tribe genocide, and massacre of human rights and environmental activists and while the possibility of a full embargo should remain on the table, sanctions should be voted at once. Furthermore, independent satellite monitoring is required as the narcodictator simply fired the Brazilian Space Agency director who refused to doctor the official deforestation data, which also means all deforestation data from Brazil from now on is not to be trusted, as well as economic data. Bear in mind the dry season is just starting and its peak is in October, so severe monitoring past the announced two month moratorium, which is a diversionary measure, will be required.The genocidal agenda has been set far in advance. You do not know this creep, who spent his entire campaign praising torturers from the last dictatorship and promising the massacre of liberals and the ousting of indigenous tribes. Without placing heavy sanctions on Brazil right now, and setting up strict independent monitoring (it is not like there is any shortage of available satellites) and without relentless pressure on the Brazilian govern for the next four years, at least, the Amazon will be toast and world CO₂ emissions will multiply.Why Brazil’s New President Poses an Unprecedented Threat to the AmazonMining can reach 1/3 of the indigenous reservesPesticide was used “as agent orange” on indigenous communities, DA saysTribal genocide - also using the term literally, ‘the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group’ - is the new Brazilian formal state policy. Surviving children are to be raised as Pentecostals - the current Human Rights minster kidnapped an Indian child herself.“The present government is made up of people who aim to end the native tribes. Really finish them off, revoke all reserves, to privatize their lands, to catechize any surviving children”.“Gangsters have taken power in Brazil,” explains Brazilian anthropologist Eduardo Viveiros de Castro. And that, of course, has serious consequences for indigenous communities. “It's a 1984 Orwell type scenario, the biggest enemy of the environment as minister of the environment, the biggest enemy of indigenous rights as responsible for the National Native Tribe Foundation: ‘who’s the worst possible person for this place?’”SourceThe military, traditional guardians of the Amazon, are now being controlled by extremists who glorify the 1964-85 military dictatorship and who don’t care about, or even implicitly support, tribal genocide and explicitly want to revoke the reservations.There have been ample protests across Brazil for the Amazon, but the government obviously could not care less:Protests in defense of the Amazon gather thousands in SP, RJ and BrasiliaPan-banging protests heard across the country during TV pronouncement against Bolsonaro and the devastation of the Amazon.For 66%, Brazil must accept foreign money against deforestation in the Amazon…International sanctions are required, with the boycott of wood/timber, soy, and meat/beef from Brazil being a reasonable first step for the next three years, or while the situation remains out of control, whichever lasts longer.Initiatives including Finland urges EU to consider banning Brazilian beef over Amazon fires are in the correct vein and the most realistic approach to the issue. As a permanent measure for consumers: please, when buying any typical Amazon product such as Brazil nuts and Acai berries, prefer certified products only.Also, several international companies demand direly drive the fires, including Cargill, Stop & Shop, Costco, McDonald’s, Walmart/Asda, and Sysco, which could be boycotted too.“We, the peoples of the Amazon, are full of fear. Soon you will be too” | Raoni MetuktireNeocolonialism Will Spell the Amazon's DemiseSourceThe blazes in the Amazon are so big they can be seen from space. One map shows the alarming scale of the fires. The map may convey that fires were more or less distributed in South America, but it does not show the scale of each fire. The carbon monoxide map conveys the climatic effects better:‘I Thought the World Was Ending’: What’s Fueling the Amazon Rainforest FiresBrazil is the world's largest beef exporter — here's why eating meat is linked to the Amazon firesThere is no way to be a legal logger in Brazil, claims arrested businessmanWhat is known about the 'Fire Day', key moment of the Amazonian firesThe Amazon fires were organized by Whatsapp, the police investigation is unveiling, in a cataclysmic “Fire Day” that set an unprecedented scale of fires off on August 10, 2019.Amazon deforestation accelerating towards unrecoverable 'tipping point'‘It’s Really Close’: How the Amazon Rainforest Could Self-DestructIf the Amazon passes the tipping point, for the world, the consequence will be, over a decade, a sharp increase in emissions, up to the release of 100 year’s worth of US CO₂ emissions. A release of most of the sequestered carbon in the Amazon, in turn, if such a thing is still an uncertainly today, could well finish melting the sum total methane trapped in subsea clathrate in the shallow Arctic Sea - sequestered in the Azolla event in the Eocene when sea levels were 70 meters higher - as emissions spike well above all prior forecasts, thus invalidating studies that conclude that the current emission levels are ‘not quite enough’ to set off the clathrate gun.The consequences for Brazil of the Amazon being pushed passed the tipping point will be rather more certain and immediate, however: permanent drought across its developed regions and agricultural belts, the totality of the country becoming similar to its Northeast. This has already started. The already current amount of deforestation has already started to cause seasonal drought every few years in the county’s largest city, as at that latitude it is only the Amazon throwing an immense amount of water into the upper troposphere that keeps it from having the same climate as Namibia and Australia.Climatic RoleRainforests are not the lungs of the world; those would be the oceans. They are, however, the largest fast-action carbon sink in the world - and the sequestered carbon in them, when burned, is released back in to the atmosphere. Think of wood as being short-term (unless buried, but ranchers don’t bury their deforested timber, they burn it or let it rot) natural carbon sequestration mechanism, and calcium carbonate as the long-term.Wood - Carbon sequestration via wood burialCalcium Carbonate - Key to speeding up carbon sequestration discovered: How to encourage the chemical reaction by which carbon dioxide is locked away in the oceanFurthermore, due to deforestation, the Amazon rainforest is absorbing a third less carbon than a decade ago. The planet needs the rainforest as a carbon sink for carbon sequestration as much of it as possible. But its function as a carbon sink is dropping rapidly - there is a long-term decline of the Amazon carbon sink - which in conjunction with a ‘savannahfication’ feedback loop, after the tipping point is past, will have grave global climatic repercussions if the current agenda is allowed to run its course.While the primary forest should be preserved and not allow to burn, on the other hand, the fastest way to capture carbon is through the planting new tropical forests. (“Afforestation and reforestation potentially could achieve annual carbon sequestration rates in aboveground and below-ground biomass of 0.4-1.2 tons ha/yr in boreal regions, 1.5-4.5 tons ha/yr in temperate regions, and 4-8 tons ha/yr in tropical regions”). Reforestation is the most effective way to go about this, as the places that were never originally forested are usually unsuitable for forests or require irrigation. After democracy returns to Brazil, investing in tropical reforestation could play a major role in climate mitigation.What Satellite Imagery Tells Us About the Amazon Rain Forest Fires. The areas ideal for reforestation are the yellow areas above.Merely reforesting the deforested areas of the Amazon, which was 421,775 km² in 2016, would capture = 42,177,500 ha x 8 tons = 337,420,000 tons = 337.42 Tg (million tons) per year.When Brazil actually functioned as a countryUnder the 2002–2014 Labor Administrations, a novel program had been successful in curbing Amazon deforestation from 27 to 5 thousand km² year. The Plan for Prevention and Control of Deforestation in the Legal Amazon or PPCDAm included satellite data monitoring, the use of a municipality blacklist (“priority list’) banning federal agricultural credit access and legal deforestation permits to all producers in blacklisted municipalities, and incentives for these municipalities to be removed from the blacklist. The municipality was white-listed after achieving positive, measured results. Many affected City Halls took the initiative to create local, specific environmental programs to attain white-listing, coordinating a local effort. Visible results usually came after Terms of Adjustment of Conduct, overseen by state chapters of Federal District Attorney’s office, were signed with key local offenders. The list’s management, including white-listing, was defined at the federal level by the Ministry of the Environment. The program’s results were amply effective: read more in National Geographic.The most successful anti-deforestation program to date used the local administration and the municipality as cornerstones to halt the deforestation, but there must be a democratic government in place to do this. Anyone further off can be easily bamboozled. State or federal agencies alone were never able to deliver results, other than the state level providing the judiciary support, and the federal, the satellite oversight and putting municipality in and out of the restricted blacklist and offering support programs and strong positive incentives to the municipalities.Therefore, “internationalizing” the Amazon’s stewardship or making it less local would considerably worsen the problem. It was the combination on satellite surveillance, the local state chapters of Federal District Attorneys and unexpected leadership by City Halls and Mayors which attained results. The terms of adjustment of conduct the DAs brought to offending landowners, an environmentally committed Federal Government - but above all motivated City Halls and Mayors, who ended up taking the lead to drive the solutions and actually attain results - did the trick. Foreign executive control (satellite oversight to demand results is one thing, but attaining any results is another) would be completely ineffective; the locals are resourceful, the criminals are rich, the public is sophisticated, and the responsible parties are amply capable of running circles around any administration other than a savvy, knowledgeable, local, hands-on, municipality. So supporting democracy and the rule of law in Brazil is the way to save the Amazon.What can the concerned citizens of the world do? Citizens may support boycotting non-certified agricultural and wood products from Brazil for the next few years, and specifically Amazonian products such as Brazil nuts and Acai berries, for life. Citizens may demand sanctions, independent oversight, and support for democracy and the rule of law in Brazil: freedom and political rights for the legitimate leaders arrested by lawfare to rig the elections, and that the narcodictator’s election frauds, which were hushed up, investigation be reopened and made public.The best way to protect the Amazon is to support free, non-rigged elections:US admits role in Operation Lava Jato, brags about Lula convictionHow Brazil’s Elites Jailed Former President Lula and Cleared the Way for BolsonaroBolsonaro Came to Power in Brazil Through Election FraudSon of Brazil President Bolsonaro joins Steve Bannon groupTrump praises Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s leader, for picking son Eduardo as U.S. ambassadorBolsonaro business backers accused of illegal Whatsapp fake news campaignBrazil's Jair Bolsonaro Accused of Widespread Electoral FraudExtortion by Rogue Police Gangs Is Booming in Bolsonaro’s BrazilThe legitimate leader, who would win by a landslide, was arrested on false charges:Brazil's Lula should have political rights: U.N. Human Rights Committee6 holes in the new lawfare conviction against Lula'Lula is Political Prisoner': American Association of JuristsEyewitnesses: a Scientist"I have been working in the Amazon for 12 years, and researching the impact of fire on the largest rainforest in the world for 10 years. My doctorate and postdoc were on this and I have seen the forest burning under my feet more often than I would like to. I feel obliged to bring some clarifications as a scientist and as a Brazilian, since for most people the reality of the Amazon is so distant:First, and most importantly, fires in the Amazon rainforest do not occur naturally - they need a source of anthropogenic ignition or, in other words, for someone to put it on fire. Unlike other ecosystems, such as the Cerrado, the Amazon has NOT evolved with fire as part of its natural dynamic [such as redwoods and other trees that require fire to germinate]. This means that when the Amazon catches fire, an overwhelming part of its trees die, because they have no fire protection at all. When they die, these trees then decompose, releasing into the atmosphere all the carbon they stored, thus contributing to climate change. The problem with this is that the Amazon stores a lot of carbon in its trees, the entire forest stocks the equivalent of 100 years of US CO₂ emissions, so burning the forest means putting a lot of CO₂ back into the atmosphere.The fires – which, once more, are always man-made - are of two types: the one used to clear a fallow field, and the one used to clear and deforest an area; what we are seeing is of the second kind. In order to clear the forest, first it is cut down, usually with what is called a correntão [big chain] - two bulldozers drag a massive chain, and as the tractors move forward the chain between them brings the forest to the ground."Absurd and infamous", says journalist about release of chain deforestationThe fallen forest lays drying on the ground for a while, usually a few months of the dry season, because only in the dry season [May to October, getting worse as time passes] will the vegetation lose enough moisture enough to be able to catch fire, making all the vegetation disappear, and then it is possible to plant pasture grass. The vast fires that we are seeing now, that made the sky of São Paulo darken, represent this last step in the deforestation dynamic - turning the fallen forest to ashes.In addition to the loss of carbon and biodiversity caused by deforestation itself, there is also a more invisible loss - that which occurs in burned forests. The fire from deforestation can escape to non-deforested areas, and if dry enough, can also burn the standing forest. That forest will then store and capture 40% less carbon than previously, and once again, carbon that has already been lost to the atmosphere form the burn. Half-burnt forests are no longer lush green, full of life, the cacophony of sounds from various animals is muted - the forest acquires shades of browns and grays, an eerie silence with the only sounds being those of occasionally falling trees.The dry season in the Amazon has always brought about fires and burns, and for years, I have been trying to draw attention to forest fires, like those of 2015 when the forest was exceptionally dry due to El Niño. What is different this year is the scale of the problem. It is the sharp increase in deforestation, coupled with the numerous outbreaks of burning forest fires, and the increase of carbon monoxide emissions (which shows that the forest is burning), which culminated in the black rain in São Paulo and the rerouting of flights from Rondônia to Manaus, cities a “mere” thousand kilometers away. The most alarming about this whole story is that we are still at the beginning of the dry season. In October, the peak of the dry season in Pará, unfortunately the situation tends to become much worse.In 2004, Brazil peaked 25000 km² of deforested forest in the year. Since then, we had reduced this rate to one fifth. It is possible to curb and combat deforestation, but it depends as much on societal pressure as on governmental political goodwill. It is up to the government to take responsibility for current deforestation rates and stop his speeches that promote impunity in the countryside. It must be understood that without the Amazon, there will be no rain in the rest of the country, seriously jeopardizing our agricultural production and our power generation. It must be understood that the Amazon is not a bunch of trees together, but our greatest asset.It’s an indescribable pain to see the largest rainforest in the world, my object of study, and my own country, burn. The smell of barbecue, to the backdrop of deep silence, of a burnt forest - are images that I will never get out of my head. It’s a trauma. But on the current scale, you won't need to be a researcher or resident of the region to feel the pain of losing the Amazon. The ashes of our country now seek us out even in the large metropoles.” Sourceby Dr. Erika BerenguerEyewitnesses: a Citizen“Hi everyone. I live in Porto de Moz - Pará, on the Xingu River. I’m in the middle of the Amazon and you have no idea what's going on here. The press is showing the fires burning, but that is just one of the facts taking place. It is horrifying to know that what’s going on is much worse. Since Bolsonaro has been elected president, it seems that loggers, ranchers, land grabbers, and all kind of devastators have been empowered and feel free to commit their environmental crimes. They found in the president's speech an incentive to destroy nature with the certainty of impunity. In the Labor Party governments, environmental policy bothered these people. During this period, several conservation units were created throughout the Amazon, including here in my municipality was created the largest extractive reserve, the Verde para Sempre (‘Forever Green’). These initiatives became widespread over the period, combining development with environmental preservation - what we call sustainable development. Just in Verde para Sempre we have six community forest management projects. This is a sustainable development model, that confronts the devastating exploitation wrought by those who are against environmental preservation.The devastators are clearing huge areas on their own [large-scale deforestation requires a permit, or rather, used to] without any legality whatsoever, and you know that along with deforestation all the nature of an area is lost as well: plants, animals, all biodiversity. Then they put it on fire, burning everything to ashes. This worries us a lot, because we are the first affected, the people who live here. There is also an explosion of illegal mining, contaminating the rivers and underground [with toxic mercury]. Predatory fishing has returned, and this threatens the future of the best species. Land grabbing has also returned [land acquisition through document forgery with help from corrupt local authorities, among the most widespread crime in the Amazon].When we question all this destruction, we are threatened and our lives face serious risks. Bolsonaro does not even know the Amazon in person, and feels no responsibility whatsoever to the people who live here. He accusing NGOs of causing the fires is blatant, shameless lie, unprecedented in a president. He knows who the destroyers are, but he prefers to turn things around and accuse those who fight in defense of the Amazon. It is typical of him to do that. We live in constant fear for the environment. Bolsonaro ensures impunity for all crimes currently happening in the Amazon. No wonder he is dismantling the environmental oversight agencies, IBAMA and ICMBio. Amazonian “ruralists” [ranchers, farmers, landowners and land grabbers] want Bolsonaro to revoke all natural reservations in this region. Just this week, a group from the northern region met with the secretary of agriculture and demanded for the revocation of the reserves. Bolsonaro is obviously to blame for what is happening in the Amazon; his speech enables and encourages these practices. Not only the forest fires: the destruction goes far beyond!#ForaBolsonaro - #SosAmazônia - by Elias Flexa…Our position:Indigenous leader Ailton Krenak calls for 'international condemnation' on Bolsonaro for environmental policy…NoteThis is an umbrella answer attempting to answer the requests listed below:What documents were found that show Brazil’s leader is burning the Amazon rainforest on purpose? by Anthony Andranik MoumjianDo you think the cause of the fires in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest is because of the drought season or a political issue? by Stefany SantosWhy have fires increased in Brazil's rainforest, and will Bolsonaro take action to prevent further damage? by Lance CrayonWhat do you think the outcome will be of the August 2019 Brazilian Amazon fires going on right now? By Stefany SantosHow alarmed should we be about the fire raging in the Amazon for weeks now? by Kirstie KetolaWhy is no action being taken against the Brazilian government for burning down the Amazon forest? by Henry BachmanWhy is the Amazon rainforest in Brazil burning? by Snehasis GangulyThe Amazon rainforest has been burning for more than two weeks. What consequences will we face as this occurs? by Stephanie MelendezIs there any proof that the fire in the Amazon was started to 'clear out indigenous people'? by Erica SchafferAs an ordinary person, what can we do to protect the Amazon forest? by David RyanWhy is Bolsonaro behaving so hostile toward nations trying to help protect the Amazon rainforest?How much of the Amazon rainforest is lost to industry, every year? by Dale RiceIs President Bolsonaro allowing the Amazon Rainforest to burn for commercial expansion in Brazil? by Skye R. ReganWhy is no one talking about the burning of the Amazon rainforest? by Johnanth FallieWhat is being done to stop the fire from spreading in the Amazon rainforest? by Johnanth FallieWhat can we do to reverse the damage that would be caused due to the Amazon rainforest being on fire? by Yogita ReddyCan the Amazon Rainforest survive the deforestation efforts of Bolsonaro? by Kirstie KetolaWhat are the consequences of the Amazon rainforest burning this long? by Anthony Andranik MoumjianWhat is happening in the Amazon rainforest, who is responsible and what are the costs (fires in August 2019)? by David BautistaWhat would happen if the Amazon rainforest vanished? by User-12376503311686101024What is being done to stop the Amazon rainforest from burning in Brazil? by Laurie DavisThe Brazilian President claims that NGOs may be burning the Amazon forest. How true is it? by Alan Gimenez Ribeiro and Mridul MohtaWhat has caused the several wildlifes in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest? by Skye R. ReganWhen will Amazon deforestation really affect the people and become a major cause? by Ahlan Fernandes DiasHow bad is the Amazon fire? by Henry BachmanIs logging actually a threat to the Amazon Rainforest since it's over half the size of the entire continental United States? by Ellie WilliamsDoes deforestation in the Brazilian rainforest threaten the existence of Brazil's indigenous people? by Amy AlkonDuring the 90s, we were told that the Amazon rainforest would be gone by the year 2000. What saved it from destruction? by Evan CrosbyWhy is there a “no turning back” tipping point of the Amazon’s deforestation? And is there really nothing we can do about it? by Gerrit Bernard