Amazon fires: Seven countries sign forest protection pact.

Pedro_P

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

▼ Seven South American countries have agreed measures to protect the Amazon river basin, amid global concern over massive fires in the world's largest tropical forest.
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Suriname signed a pact, setting up a disaster response network and satellite monitoring.
At a summit in Colombia, they also agreed to work on reforestation.
More than 80,000 fires have broken out in the Amazon rainforest this year.
"This meeting will live on as a co-ordination mechanism for the presidents that share this treasure - the Amazon," said Colombian Presiden Iván Duque, who hosted the summit in the city of Leticia.
Meanwhile, Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra said: "Goodwill alone is not enough anymore."
The seven nations also agreed to put more efforts into education and increase the role of indigenous communities.
The countries were represented in Leticia by presidents, vice-presidents and ministers.
Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro took part by videolink because he was preparing for surgery.
What's the background to this?
The Amazon is a vital carbon store that slows down the pace of global warming, and 60% of it is located in Brazil.
The number of fires between January and August 2019 is double that of the same period last year, according to the country's National Institute for Space Research (Inpe).
President Bolsonaro has drawn intense domestic and international criticism for failing to protect the region.
Environmentalists say his policies have led to an increase in fires this year and that he has encouraged cattle farmers to clear vast swathes of the rainforest since his election last October.
Bolivia has also seen fires rage across the forest near its borders with Brazil and Paraguay.
Meanwhile, Brazil's leading meat export industry group and agricultural businesses have joined an environmental campaign calling for an end to deforestation in public lands in the Amazon and demanding government action.
Several international retailers have said they are suspending purchases of Brazilian leather because of the links between cattle ranching and the fires devastating parts of the Amazon rainforest.

► This news was originally published here: Source

ssangra

So could it have been fire that destroyed the Mayans, Aztecs and the Incas. Some of their monuments do look burnt badly in some places

GrimReaper

This is such a brilliant news!
I feel more and more countries should come forward to protect the rainforest! Similar steps should be taken in South East Asia too.

chanakyakripa

The world bodies must step up efforts to curb such accidents. We must not loose our lungs. These rain forests are the maximum source of O2 for the entire world. At the end of the day we owe our next generation at least some healthy environment if not anything else.

asr335704

I really pray and wish that these countries really help Brazil by taking effective and selfless actions, not merely signing the papers. This will help greatly in saving dense Amazon forests and wildlife in Amazon.

By the way, frequency of news on this topic in papers or online is very less. Is amazon fire really stopped or reduced to minimal ?

jackoftrades

Too bad people are the cause for the fire, hope they take steps to preserve wildlife and nature