Brazil has faced unprecedented wildfires this year, with over 22 million hectares, including half in the Amazon rainforest, burned in the first nine months of 2024. This marks an increase of 150% compared to the same period in 2023, according to a report by the MapBiomas initiative.
The burned area is equivalent to the size of Belarus and represents approximately 2.6% of Brazil's land area. The report highlights that there were a total of 213,413 fire outbreaks, the highest number recorded for this period since 2010.
The surge in wildfires is attributed to a severe drought affecting Brazil, which has been described as the worst in 75 years, exacerbated by climate change. Over half of the burned area was in the Amazon, with September alone accounting for 5.5 million hectares lost, a staggering 196% increase from September 2023.
In addition to the Amazon, the Cerrado region, crucial for Brazil's water reserves and biodiversity, was significantly impacted, with 4.3 million hectares burned in September—a rise of 158% year-on-year. The Pantanal wetlands also saw nearly 318,000 hectares consumed by fire, marking a 662% increase compared to the previous year.
Data from Brazil's National Institute for Space Research indicates that these wildfires are the worst the country has experienced in 14 years. Environmental groups have noted that the fires often occur in primary forest areas rather than newly deforested lands, raising concerns about illegal land conversion practices.
The primary drivers of deforestation in the Amazon are linked to the demand for pasture and soybean production, which continue to threaten the region's ecological balance.