In 2023, the Amazon experienced a significant surge in wildfires, particularly in old-growth forest areas, despite a general decline in the rate of deforestation and the total number of fires across the region (Mataveli et al, 2024). According to a study published in Global Change Biology, wildfires in these ancient forests increased by 152% from the previous year (FAPESP, 2024). This alarming trend underscores the escalating challenges faced by this vital ecological zone, highlighting the impacts of climate variability and human activities on forest health and stability. The study analyzed satellite imagery, revealing a sharp increase in forest fires from 13,477 in 2022 to 34,012 in 2023, with drought being identified as the primary catalyst (FAPESP, 2024). The Amazon has been subjected to more severe and extended dry periods, with notable droughts recorded in 2010 and 2015-16, exacerbating the forest's vulnerability to fire (Mataveli et al, 2024). The recent drought, which began last year and is still ongoing, has further aggravated the situation, leading to significant fragmentation of plant cover.

Guilherme Augusto Verola Mataveli, the lead author of the study and a specialist in remote sensing at the National Space Research Institute (INPE), emphasized the critical need to understand the geographic patterns of these fires to tailor appropriate responses. He pointed out that the increase in fires not only leads to vegetation loss, which often precedes further deforestation, but also contributes to carbon emissions, thus exacerbating global climate change (FAPESP, 2024). The research further highlighted that the state of Pará and Roraima are among the worst affected. In Pará, the number of old-growth forest fires spiked significantly, and Roraima, home to a large Indigenous population, witnessed more than half of the Amazon's fires in 2024 alone, with numerous communities declaring states of emergency due to the smoke and resultant health crises (FAPESP, 2024).

Efforts To Combat And Prevent Forest Fires

In response to these dire circumstances, IBAMA's National Center for Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention (PREVFOGO) has intensified efforts to combat and prevent forest fires, especially in Roraima. This involves deploying over 300 firefighters and utilizing four aircraft, a strategic response that highlights the collaborative efforts between state, municipal, and federal authorities to mitigate fire risks (FAPESP, 2024). The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the role of climate change and phenomena like El Niño in intensifying the drought conditions that fuel these fires. The ministry stressed the importance of continued and enhanced firefighting efforts across various government levels.

Moreover, the impact of these fires on forest resilience cannot be overstated. Wildfires severely diminish the forest's capacity to store carbon, with tree mortality in primary forest areas often exceeding 50% of the above-ground biomass (Mataveli et al, 2024). This not only reduces the carbon sequestration capabilities of the forest but also weakens its ability to maintain a humid microclimate essential for the ecosystem's moisture recycling processes. The increase in wildfires also presents challenges for traditional subsistence farmers who rely on controlled burns for land management. With the forest becoming more flammable due to heightened drought conditions and human activities such as illegal logging and the continuous use of fire, the traditional practices of these communities are becoming increasingly untenable.

Luiz Aragão, another prominent researcher involved in the study, warned of the escalating vulnerability of the Amazon, both environmentally and socio-economically. He advocated for urgent measures to mitigate fires and maintain the forest's integrity, suggesting that the use of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence could play a crucial role in predicting and preventing future fires (FAPESP, 2024). The study calls for an expansion of command-and-control operations, the establishment of more numerous and better-equipped fire brigades, and the constant improvement of monitoring systems to ensure the Amazon's sustainability and its role in Brazil's national development.