Brazil’s wildfires are fueled by individuals clearing land for agriculture or engaging in arson for chaos, a senior police official informed AFP, urging stricter penalties for environmental offenses.
A major drought, believed to be linked to climate change, has caused massive fires across forests and farmlands in the country.
However, the fires were deliberately ignited by people.
“There are economic motives behind clearing land for grazing or claiming public lands. Some fires are set intentionally to cause chaos,” stated Humberto Freire, head of environmental police in the Amazon, in an interview with AFP.
Freire added, “We suspect coordinated actions as many fires start simultaneously in close areas, possibly to overwhelm firefighters and destabilize regions.”
While authorizing land clearing for agriculture is usually required, it is currently prohibited due to the drought.
The fires have led to air pollution in major cities like Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Brasilia, harmed wildlife like jaguars in the Pantanal wetlands, and destroyed crops.
The federal police have initiated 50 investigations concerning the fires.
“There have been reports of suspects being detained by local authorities in different states,” Freire revealed.
– ‘Harsher punishments’ –
Freire emphasized the need to update Brazil’s laws on environmental crimes amidst the global climate emergency.
He stated, “Environmental crimes are often underestimated in severity and importance, despite their extensive global impact and potential fatalities.”
Without stronger penalties, investigations face limitations, according to Freire.
He proposed linking environmental crimes to organized crime to impose stricter sentences.
“Organized crime finds environmental crimes profitable, while current legislation offers lenient punishments,” he explained.
Illegal activities like gold mining may result in up to six months to one year in prison, while arson could lead to two to four years of incarceration.
“Offenders may escape prison based on their criminal history, and by the time investigations conclude, the statute of limitations might have expired,” Freire remarked.
“Therefore, enhanced penalties are essential.”
Satellites from the Institute for Space Research (Inpe) have recorded 61,572 fires in Brazil since September, surpassing last year’s total for the entire month.
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