Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon surged last month to the highest May level since the current monitoring method began, prompting concerns president Jair Bolsonaro is giving a free pass to illegal logging, farming and mining.
According to data from Brazil’s satellite monitoring agency, the rainforest lost 739 square kilometres during the month, which is equivalent to the size of two football fields every minute.
Executive secretary of Climate Observatory, Carlos Rittle, says the spike in deforestation is not surprising, accusing the government in Brazil of dismantling environmental protection policies and empowering environmental criminals.