"Brazil’s Amazon Hot, Dry and Ablaze"

"BRASILIA  – Brazil’s National Space Research Institute, INPE, registered over 53,000 forest fires in the country up to Friday, and warns that the hot, dry weather may make things worse, if law enforcement efforts are not increased.

This warning indicates that many of the fires are the result of human activities, such as slash and burn agriculture.

Figures from the Forest Fire Monitoring Program reveal a 65 percent increase in the number of fires in the country this year compared to the same period in 2015, reports Brazil’s official news agency, Agência Brasil.

According to INPE, the fire season in Brazil is still in its early phase, with its peak forecast to occur in September. For this reason, the population is asked not to set fire to vegetation in this time of year, as human action, coupled with the hot, dry weather, is among the main causes of forest fires."

Environment News Service had the story August 10, 2016.