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Brazil has asked its security forces to help fight deforestation in the Amazon. The Brazilian government is worried that a dangerous level of trees is being cut down in the world's largest rainforest. There are fears that there could be a big increase in deforestation in 2020. The year has already started badly for the trees and our environment. Deforestation in the Amazon doubled in January compared with the same month in 2019. A new report says that many areas of the Amazon produce more CO2 than oxygen. The reverse is meant to happen. The Amazon is often called "the lungs" of the planet. It plays a vital role in helping the Earth's environment as it changes CO2 into oxygen.



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Brazil's Justice Minister, Sergio Moro, approved the setting up of a special security force to help track down and stop illegal loggers. There was a big increase in the amount of illegal logging in 2019. This happened at the same time as damaging fires that swept across large swathes of the rainforest. The security force will consist of police with special military-style training. They will work with environmental agency officials. Change also needs to come from regional governments. Some governments in the region are selling off land to developers. This is accelerating the pace of deforestation. To make things worse, the regional governments are doing little to replenish the jungle.

Sources:

  • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-environment/brazil-authorizes-national-security-force-to-fight-deforestation-idUSKBN2041XI
  • https://www.smh.com.au/world/south-america/brazil-to-send-forces-in-to-fight-deforestation-20200211-p53zsc.html
  • https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/americas/2020-02-10/amazon-nearing-point-no-return

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