Global General

Brazil's forest fires double in January-August

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-08-18 11:23

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The number of fires in Brazilian forests doubled in January to August compared to the same period last year, a research center announced Tuesday.

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Data from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) showed that 30,825 forest fires occurred from January 1 to August 16, while the number was 15,228 during the same period last year.

One factor that contributed to the rise is the much drier and warmer weather than that of 2009, the INPE said.

The INPE's Fire Watch Coordinator Alberto Setzer said that farmers tend to use fires to expand pasture and cultivation areas more often when the economic scenario becomes favorable, and the dry weather makes it much easier to lose control of those fires.

Supervision over forest fires is not that strict in an election year, which aggravates the spread of fires, he said.

Forest fires have already affected 18 Brazilian states, including the Federal District. The smoke caused by those fires is impairing the visibility on highways in some areas.