There is a 79% increase in fires in the Amazon rain forest from the same time period in 2018.
Deforestation caused the loss of 8.9 million acres of primary rain forest, an area equal to the size of Belgium. If enough rain forest is lost and can’t be restored, it will become a savanna, loosing much of its carbon storing ability.
The Amazon rain forest produces over 20% of the world’s oxygen supply. It stores over 2.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year.
Survival of the Amazon rain forest is key to reducing the global climate crisis.
For more information on this topic:
The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/world/amp-stories/amazon-fires-causes-rainforest-climate-change/?noredirect=on
The New York Times https://nyti.ms/2ZwdB9i
The Telegraph (UK) https://youtu.be/MSL4fr6mOh4