The Amazon is being destroyed on an industrial scale - and Brazil's election could seal its fate
22 Oct
By Stuart Ramsay, chief correspondent
The pristine canopy of the Amazon rainforest is breathtaking when seen from the air.
It's hard to describe just how big it is, but it is absolutely vast, spanning nine countries in South America.
It is the most biodiverse place on the planet – home to 10 percent of the entire world's wildlife.
There are nearly 400 billion trees that release billions of tonnes of water into the air every day, and store billions of tonnes of carbon in their trunks and branches
The world needs the Amazon, but it is being destroyed on an industrial scale every hour, and Brazil is the greatest offender.
Under President Jair Bolsonaro deforestation has rocketed, and in September deforestation levels reached a new record.
Satellite data from Brazil's federal space research institute shows that roughly 1,455 square kilometres of rainforest was chopped down. Just in September.
That's an area equivalent of Greater London. Just in September.
More:
https://news.sky.com/story/the-amazon-rainforest-is-being-destroyed-on-an-industrial-scale-and-the-brazilian-election-could-decide-its-future-12726481
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