In recent months, vast portions of South America have been consumed by raging wildfires, devastating millions of hectares of forestland, farmland, and ecosystems. From Ecuador’s drought-stricken capital to Paraguay’s Chaco forests and deep into Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, man-made blazes have sparked environmental catastrophes across the continent. Thick plumes of smoke now obscure once blue skies, forcing cities to close schools and health clinics to fill with patients suffering from respiratory problems.
The Blue Skies Turn to Gray: A New Reality
The “pure crystalline” blue sky of Rondônia, a state the size of the United Kingdom, are praised in the state’s official song, but for months, the skies have been obscured by a thick layer of smoke. Fires, many of them intentionally started to clear land for agriculture or ranching, have ravaged the region, threatening not only its biodiversity but also its inhabitants.
Rondônia’s capital, Porto Velho, which houses over 500,000 residents, has suffered the consequences as planes have been unable to land, schools have shut down, and hospitals have been overwhelmed by patients suffering from respiratory issues. Dr. Lilian Samara de Melo Lima, a doctor in the city’s government polyclinic, described the unprecedented impact of this year’s fires. The local population is not new to the annual “burning season,” but Lima believes that this year has been truly devastating due to human encroachment into unexplored jungles.
The Widespread Consequences of Man-Made Fires
Fires in Brazil are far from the only problem. Across South America, wildfires have had similarly disastrous effects. Paraguay’s Chaco ecosystem, a region known for its dry forests and savannahs, has been severely affected. Since early September, over 180,000 hectares of land have gone up in flames. The wildfires began on deforested ranch land and quickly spread, threatening endangered species and causing immense environmental destruction. For indigenous communities like the Ayoreo nomads, these wildfires have been life-threatening, destroying hunting grounds and their way of life.
Peru is also in crisis, as fires ravage both the Andes and its portion of the Amazon rainforest. Tens of thousands of hectares of land have burned, killing at least 20 people and leaving behind a trail of destruction. Six regions have declared states of emergency, with fires affecting 22 of Peru’s 24 regions. While traditional slash-and-burn practices have been blamed by some, most experts agree that the fires were deliberately started to clear land for farming, ranching, and illegal crop cultivation.
In Ecuador, wildfires have been so widespread that they have shrouded the country’s capital, Quito, in ash and smoke. According to Christian Rivera, an Ecuadorian paramedic, the scale of the emergency is unprecedented in his 30-year career. Fires have engulfed entire regions, threatening agriculture, wildlife, and public health.
Fire and Drought: A Deadly Combination
South America’s wildfires are not a result of dry conditions alone. The natural climate phenomenon, El Niño, has contributed to one of the worst droughts in recent history. Combined with the ongoing effects of climate change, these dry conditions have created a tinderbox in which even small sparks can lead to massive wildfires.
Erika Berenguer, a scientist at Oxford University who studies fire impacts on the Amazon, noted that drought and fires are not just confined to Brazil. A record number of fire “hotspots” have been found by satellites in Guyana, Venezuela, and Colombia. wildfires in Bolivia have been equally catastrophic, particularly in the eastern lowlands around Santa Cruz, where 7 million hectares of forest and pasture have burned – the worst environmental disaster in the country’s history.
Health and Environmental Costs of the Fires
As smoke continues to blanket South America’s skies, the effects on public health have become impossible to ignore. Health clinics across the continent are treating surges of patients suffering from smoke inhalation, respiratory issues, eye inflammation, and migraines. In Porto Velho, Brazil, where smoke has smothered the city for months, the health secretary, Marilene Penati, expressed her deep concerns. “The Earth is sick,” she warned, quoting Pope Francis’s recent address on environmental destruction.
The wildfires also pose severe risks to the region’s already endangered wildlife. In Paraguay’s Chaco ecosystem, species such as jaguars, armadillos, and birds have lost their habitats. Bolivia’s forests, too, have been devastated, further endangering species already on the brink of extinction.
Fires and Climate Change: A Vicious Cycle
The Amazon rainforest plays a vital role in both creating oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide, earning it the nickname “lungs of the Earth.” But as wildfires continue to consume the Amazon at alarming rates, the rainforest has shifted from being a carbon sink to a carbon emitter. The fires release massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, exacerbating global climate change and contributing to the very conditions that fuel more fires.
Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) reported that satellites detected over 41,000 fire hotspots in the Amazon in September alone, the highest number recorded since 2010. wildfires in the first nine months of 2024 are the worst since 2007. Para, home to the Amazon River, recorded the highest number of wildfires in September since 2007, with large swathes of forestland reduced to ashes. Low water levels in the Amazon Basin have worsened the situation, leaving once lush vegetation dry and vulnerable to fire.
The Economic Impact: Agriculture and Livelihoods at Risk
While the wildfires have devastating environmental and health consequences, they also threaten the economies of countries dependent on agriculture. Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay rely heavily on agriculture, and the fires are directly affecting crops and livestock. In Bolivia, fires in the Santa Cruz region have burned through some of the country’s most fertile land, jeopardizing its production of soy and beef.
The ongoing drought has already caused significant losses for farmers across the continent. Rivers that once provided water for irrigation and transportation have dried up, leaving communities isolated and unable to transport goods. João Mendonça, a resident of an Amazonian river community, described how the dry riverbeds have forced villagers to walk miles in the scorching heat to collect water, all while carrying heavy loads on their backs.
A Global Crisis: The Urgent Need for Collective Action
The fires in South America are not just a regional crisis; they are a global emergency. The Amazon rainforest is critical to regulating the planet’s climate, and its destruction threatens to accelerate climate change on a worldwide scale. Moreover, the fires are contributing to the degradation of ecosystems that support millions of species, including humans.
Despite these alarming trends, impunity for environmental crimes remains rampant. Illegal logging, mining, and land grabbing continue to drive deforestation and wildfires. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has called the fires “criminal” and vowed to expand efforts to combat environmental destruction. However, enforcement has been challenging, and many fires go unpunished.
Solutions and Path Forward
Addressing these wildfires and deforestation in South America requires a multi-pronged approach. Governments must strengthen their enforcement of environmental laws, particularly in protected areas and indigenous territories. Illegal activities such as logging, mining, and land grabbing need to be prosecuted, with stiff penalties for those who violate the law.
Financial institutions also have a role to play. As Greenpeace Brazil noted in its report “Bankrolling Extinction,” many landowners who engage in illegal deforestation receive financial support from banks and other institutions. Banks must stop providing loans to those responsible for environmental destruction and ensure that rural credit is only extended to those who comply with environmental regulations.
Reforestation and restoration efforts are essential to rebuilding the damaged ecosystems. Community-led initiatives, such as Acción Andina’s reforestation model, can help restore degraded lands and protect endangered species. International support, both in terms of funding and expertise, will also be crucial in addressing the environmental crisis.
Conclusion: The Time for Action is Now
The wildfires ravaging South America are a wake-up call to the world. The planet is in crisis, and the continued destruction of the Amazon and other critical ecosystems is accelerating climate change, endangering biodiversity, and threatening the health and livelihoods of millions of people.
As the Earth cries out for help, it is up to governments, corporations, and individuals to listen and take immediate action. It is essential to our planet’s future.
This expanded version delves deeper into each aspect of the environmental crisis, covering the impact on health, wildlife, agriculture, and the global climate. It also provides solutions and calls for collective action to address this growing issue.
How Industrial Agriculture and Reckless Financiers Are Driving Environmental Destruction in Brazil
Introduction: The Climate Crisis and Inaction
The global climate catastrophe is a constant reality that affects ecosystems and human lives everywhere in the world, not just a theoretical threat. Yet, despite the urgent need for action, governments, particularly in Brazil, are failing to protect their natural resources and people. While leaders hesitate, destructive companies, enabled by a reckless financial system, continue to pursue massive profits at the expense of Brazil’s precious ecosystems. Industrial agriculture, backed by local and international financiers, has turned Brazil’s natural environments—particularly the Amazon, the Cerrado, and the Pantanal—into sites of devastation.
The issue is not only an environmental one but also a socioeconomic crisis, as marginalized communities, especially in northern Brazil, are left to deal with the consequences of environmental degradation. This article delves into the multifaceted causes behind the destruction of Brazil’s ecosystems and examines how industrial agriculture and reckless financiers contribute to this devastation.
Smoke as the New Normal in Brazil
In Brazil, particularly in its northern regions, smoke has become an unwelcome but regular part of daily life. In many communities, especially those located near the Amazon rainforest, smoke from illegal fires often fills the air. Whether at breakfast, lunch, or dinner, smoke seems to be the only constant, a stark reminder of the country’s growing environmental crisis.
The Amazon reported 63,189 fire hotspots between January 1 and September 17, 2024, according to the National Institute for Space Research’s (Inpe) Burn Program. This is a 100.67% increase over the same period in 2023. The Cerrado, Brazil’s unique savanna, also saw a 63.3% increase in fire hotspots during the same period. Meanwhile, the Pantanal, the world’s largest inland wetland, witnessed an astonishing 2,174% increase in fire hotspots, with 9,167 hotspots recorded from January to August 2024. These figures reflect an environmental catastrophe on a massive scale.
The Climate Crisis and Deforestation: A Dangerous Feedback Loop
The connection between deforestation, agriculture, and climate change is undeniable. As Brazil’s natural areas are destroyed, the capacity of ecosystems to sequester carbon and regulate the climate diminishes. This, in turn, worsens the impacts of the climate crisis, such as droughts and extreme weather events.
In 2024, Brazil experienced an abnormal and persistent drought, particularly in the Amazon, Pantanal, and Cerrado regions. These droughts, worsened by climate change, made the forests and savannas even more vulnerable to fire, creating a dangerous feedback loop. As forests burn, greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming, which further intensifies droughts and extreme weather.
In the Amazon, wildfires do not occur naturally; they are a tool used in industrial agriculture to clear land for cattle grazing and crop production. According to MapBiomas, livestock farming is responsible for 88% of deforestation in the Amazon. This means that agribusiness, supported by local and international financiers, is the primary driver of deforestation and its associated wildfires.
Fires in the Pantanal and Cerrado: Natural or Human-Caused?
While wildfires are not naturally occurring in the Amazon, they can occur naturally in the Pantanal and Cerrado regions. However, most wildfires in these biomes are human-caused, either unintentionally or deliberately. Agriculture is often to blame, as farmers use fire to renew pastures or clear land for crops. But the spread of these wildfires has been exacerbated in recent years by extreme droughts, fueled by climate change.
In the Pantanal, the situation is particularly dire. According to a survey by MapBiomas Águas, the Pantanal has experienced a 61% reduction in its annual water surface compared to historical norms between 1985 and 2023. This drying out of the biome has made it far more susceptible to fire. Meanwhile, the Cerrado is facing its worst drought in 700 years, according to a study by researchers from the University of São Paulo, published in Nature Communications.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Role of Industrial Agriculture
Deforestation and wildfires in Brazil are not just local environmental issues; they are global concerns. These activities are the country’s primary sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In 2022, the “land-use change” category, which includes deforestation and agricultural fires, was responsible for 48% of Brazil’s total emissions, while agriculture contributed another 27%.
Yet, despite the immense environmental and social costs, the agricultural sector remains unaccountable. Agribusiness continues to expand with little regard for the destruction it causes, and the financial institutions backing these companies have not faced significant repercussions. As a result, the cycle of destruction continues, with nature and vulnerable communities paying the price.
Reckless Financiers: Who Is Funding the Destruction?
The role of financiers in Brazil’s environmental destruction cannot be overstated. International banks and investors are deeply intertwined with the agribusiness sector, providing it with the financial backing it needs to continue its harmful practices. By extending loans and investments to agricultural giants, these financial institutions enable the destruction of Brazil’s ecosystems.
One of the key reasons why agribusiness and financiers continue to devastate Brazil’s ecosystems is weak governance. Environmental regulations exist, but enforcement is often lax, and penalties are rarely paid. For instance, of the R$58 million (approximately $10.4 million USD) in fines imposed for illegal fires between 2008 and 2024, only 0.1% has been paid.
Global Financial Markets: Fueling the wildfires
The involvement of global financial markets in Brazil’s environmental destruction extends beyond rural credit. International banks, investment firms, and hedge funds all play a role in financing the companies responsible for turning Brazil’s ecosystems into ashes. These financial actors are driven by profit, often overlooking the environmental and social damage caused by the businesses they invest in.
One of the most prominent examples is JBS, which, despite its repeated violations of environmental agreements, continues to receive significant financial backing from international markets. Throughout the years, JBS has received billions of dollars in loans and investments from some of the biggest lenders, including Barclays, the Royal Bank of Canada, and the BMO Financial Group.
This financial support for companies involved in deforestation and environmental degradation is not only short-sighted but also deeply irresponsible. The destruction of the Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal has global consequences, contributing to climate change, biodiversity loss, and the destabilization of ecosystems that are crucial for regulating the planet’s climate.
The Need for Change: Aligning Financial Flows with Conservation
To address this crisis, a fundamental shift in how financial flows are managed is needed. Governments, financial regulators, and investors must take immediate steps to align public and private financial flows with biodiversity conservation, protection, and restoration. This includes withdrawing harmful subsidies and incentives that fuel environmental destruction and prioritizing activities that promote sustainable development and the preservation of natural ecosystems.