Report: Mayara Souto / COP30 Brasil
Voice-over: Bárbara Bezera, Enrique Villamil, Laura Frederico e Nycolas Verlly
Reporter: With the wildfire season beginning in August, the Brazilian government has deployed a record number of firefighters, equipment, and controlled burns to prevent and contain forest fires. According to the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe), these preventive measures are already showing results: Brasil recorded the lowest number of wildfire outbreaks in the past twelve years. This achievement reinforces the country’s role as a leader by example, as it prepares to host COP30 in the Amazon — the biome most severely affected by fires in 2024.
André Lima, Special Secretary for Deforestation Control and Environmental Land Use Planning at the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MMA), explained that the decline stems from two factors: the end of the El Niño phenomenon and Brasil’s strengthened public policies to combat wildfires.
André Lima: “First, last year was completely atypical. With El Niño [which alters rainfall patterns] now behind us, this year has been essentially neutral. Added to that was the implementation of new policies in response to last year’s situation. This set of measures included mobilizing local stakeholders, municipal and state governments, investments in fire brigades, and expanded federal actions — all of which are yielding results.”
Reporter: Forest fires are partly driven by climate change, with deforestation being one of the main contributing factors, André noted.
André Lima: “The planet is getting warmer. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, longer, and more intense, and wildfires are one of their consequences. Under normal conditions of temperature and humidity, fire does not spread in a rainforest. The problem is that climate change, worsening droughts, and deforestation are making forests more vulnerable. What once acted as a barrier against fire is now turning into fuel during dry periods.”
Reporter: Specific measures are also being prepared for Belém, in the state of Pará, to ensure the safety of COP30. Although November — when the conference will take place — is not the dry season in Brasil, planning is underway, explained Rodrigo Agostinho, President of Ibama.
Rodrigo Agostinho: “Pará is already receiving special attention. The east and south portions of the state were heavily deforested in the past and are prone to fires during the dry season. We are reinforcing our teams and making use of the increased number of firefighters.”
Reporter: Marina Silva, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, stressed that Brasil has endeavored to set a global benchmark, but emphasized that progress must continue.
Marina Silva: “Brasil has been working to lead by example. That is why we celebrate the reduction of deforestation in the Cerrado and the Pantanal. We want to establish effective control of fires nationwide. The results we seek are concrete ones, to benefit the fight against wildfires, deforestation, and all forms of destruction of our forests and biomes.”
Translation: Tadeu Azevedo (POET/UFC)
Proofreading: Michel Emmanuel Félix François (POET/UFC)