Why The Amazon Fires Are Such A Big Deal

As of August 20, more than 74,000 fires have been recorded across the Brazilian Amazon. That’s nearly double the total number of fires in 2018. So, what happened? Environmental groups blame Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, who has indicated that protecting the rainforest is not a priority. They say Bolsonaro has emboldened ranchers and farmers to set fire to forests to acquire more land, now with impunity. Scientists warn that the results may be devastating. They say the Amazon is near a tipping point, b