Deforestation has increased by 64% because of Brazil's lockdown.
The Brazil National Institute of Space Research found that there has been a 64% increase in deforestation in the Amazon rainforest throughout April.
The Brazilian lockdown began on the 24th of March 2020. Therefore, since Brazil's lockdown started, deforestation in the Amazon rainforest has skyrocketed.
The increase in deforestation is compared to last April: deforestation in the Amazon rainforest is up 64% compared to last year. Deforestation has skyrocketed in April because of Brazil's lockdown measures - authorities and conservationists can't protect the rainforest when they are not allowed to venture out of there home. This has resulted in an opportunity for loggers and miners.
The lockdown has resulted in the Amazon rainforest not being protected, which in turn has resulted in loggers and miners taking the opportunity of an unguarded rainforest and exploiting it, which in turn has resulted in a surge of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.
As April finished, Brazil said that it sent in the army to protect the forest.
But, the worst of the situation could still yet come for the Amazon rainforest, as it has been reported in recent days that Brazil could face an economic collapse over the next few weeks.
There is speculation that there could be an economic collapse in Brazil because of the lockdown there. If Brazil's economy collapses, then what will happen to the Amazon rainforest in the coming years? Will Brazil be able to defend the rainforest if there is an economic downturn in the country? Only time will tell what happens to the Amazon rainforest in the near future.
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