The fires in Brazil this year are the subject of journalistic production Reporting Paths this Monday (21) which will air on TV Brasil at 11:30 p.m. The unprecedented episode Earth in ashes: the fires of 2024 It is also available on the public broadcaster’s YouTube and on the app TV Brasil Play.
This edition was carried out with the support of the Government of Mato Grosso do Sul, ICMBio/PrevFogo – Ibama, Cerrado Pantanal Technical Animal Rescue Group (Gretap/MS), Brasília Zoo, Instituto Arara Azul and Instituto Caiman, who provided images for the TV Brasil.
The program reveals that this year Brazil recorded one of the worst fire records in the country. Temperatures also reached their highest levels and a prolonged drought helped the fire to spread quickly. A trail of destruction reached the cities, in the form of fires, but also smoke, which made the country have one of the worst levels of air pollution for several days.
Firefighters fighting fires in the Amazon – Frame: TV Brasil/Disclosure
Since 2010, not as many fires have been recorded as currently, according to the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe). ICMBio’s Integrated Fire Management coordinator, João Morita, points out that “there is no such thing as spontaneous fire, it doesn’t start out of nowhere just because it’s hot or because it’s dry, there is always an ignition, in any Brazilian biome”.
The hand of man was largely responsible for the destruction seen this year.
Until the beginning of October, 49.2% of the country’s fires occurred in the Amazon, a total of 381 thousand km² devastated by fire, which is equivalent to an area larger than Japan. To compensate for all the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere in this period, it would be necessary to plant 1.26 billion trees, which would take 20 years to absorb all this carbon.
Cerrado and the Amazon
One of the world’s greatest climatologists, Brazilian scientist Carlos Nobre, makes tragic predictions if we are unable to reverse the current situation. “We already have 18% of the Amazon deforested and we are very close to the point of no return. The forest’s dry season is already four to five weeks longer in 40 years, one week per decade. In another two or three decades, it will reach six months and the forest is no longer maintained”, he announces.
The Cerrado was the second biome with the highest number of fires, with 32.3% of the country’s fire outbreaks. One of the big fires occurred in early September, in the country’s capital. The National Forest (Flona) of Brasília burned for 5 days and had 45.85% of the territory destroyed.
For days, smoke spread across the city. “It was a fire that occurred, in my opinion, in a criminal, intentional manner. There were two fires, three kilometers apart, and the fronts met, the animals were thrown directly into the fire”, explains Fábio Miranda, director of Flona from Brasilia.
Brigadista feeds tapir in forest affected by fire in the Amazon – Frame: TV Brasil/Disclosure
Researcher Luiz Aragão, from Inpe, states that in the Cerrado the fire occurred mainly on large farms. “Almost 40% of the outbreaks occurred on large rural properties and 30% in natural areas. What could be happening is a process of deforestation or also a fire that loses control and spreads over natural protection areas”, he analyzes.
The biome that had the biggest percentage increase was the Pantanal, with 1,267% more fires between January and the beginning of October, comparing the same period in relation to 2023.
Climatologist Carlos Nobre makes another tragic prediction. “Studies indicate that if global warming continues, if deforestation in the Amazon and Cerrado continues, we will bring the Pantanal to zero between 2070 and 2100.” He emphasizes that action is needed. “For us to save the planet, there is no natural solution, we will have to do something”, he suggests.
Climatologist Carlos Nobre – Frame: TV Brasil/Disclosure
About the program
Weekly journalistic production TV Brasilthe Reporting Paths takes the viewer on a journey around the country and the world looking for special topics, with a different, thought-provoking and complex view of each of the chosen subjects.
On air for more than a decade, the Reporting Paths It is one of the most awarded journalistic attractions not only on the channel, but also on Brazilian television. To tell great stories, professionals investigate varied subjects and reveal the most relevant aspects of each subject.
Health, economy, behavior, education, environment, safety, service provision, culture and many other topics are covered in a unique way. Thematic articles provide content of interest to society on the public broadcaster’s small screen.
Current and controversial issues are treated with depth and seriousness by the channel’s team of professionals. The meticulous and well-executed work is recognized with several important awards in the journalistic world.
Aired on Mondays at 11:30 pm, the Reporting Paths There is an alternative time in the early hours of the morning for Tuesday, at 4:30 am. The production makes special editions available on the website http://tvbrasil.ebc.com.br/caminhosdareportagem and on the public broadcaster’s YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/tvbrasil.
Previous articles are also on the app TV Brasil Playavailable on Android and iOS versions, and on the website http://tvbrasilplay.com.br.
Live and on demand
Follow the program TV Brasil via open channels, pay TV and satellite dishes. Tune in: https://tvbrasil.ebc.com.br/comosintonizar.
Your favorite programs are on TV Brasil Playvia the website http://tvbrasilplay.com.br or via an app on your smartphone. The app can be downloaded for free and is available for Android and iOS. Also watch on WebTV: https://tvbrasil.ebc.com.br/webtv.
Service
Paths of Reporting – Monday, 10/21, at 11:30 pm, at TV Brasil.
