Earth’s burning lungs: On Amazon's rainforest fire (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 3: Environment
Prelims level: Forest fires
Mains level: Details about deforestations worldwide

Context

• The Amazon rainforest, the largest of its kind in the world, is ablaze, with over 9,500 distinct fires burning through its main basin since August 15.
• Overall, Brazil has seen more than 76,000 fires ravage the Amazon in 2019, of which around 10,000 have been started in the past few weeks, mainly by loggers and farmers seeking, as they do during the summer months, to clear vast tracts for agricultural or industrial use.
• However, this annual exercise of planned deforestation appears to have crossed a tipping point this year.

Key highlights about the deforestation

• There has been an increase of at least 80% in the number of recorded fires compared to the same period in 2018, according to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE).
• This week, images of darkening skies above Sao Paulo, more than 2,700 km away from the fires, went viral.
• The number and intensity of the fires are closely linked to the rate of deforestation. Some reports estimate that in July 2019, the Amazon shrunk by 1,345 sq km, up 39% from the same month last year, and a historical record.
• The flames are not confined just to Brazil either. In neighbouring Bolivia, deadly blazes are devastating forests and farmlands, so much so, that its President, Evo Morales, has put his re-election campaign on hold over the weekend, and, unlike his Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro, was quick to welcome foreign aid to help fight the fires.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) With reference to Central Vigilance commission, consider the following statements:
1. It was created on the recommendations of K. Santhanam Committee on Prevention of corruption.
2. The term of the members is five years or 65 years, whichever is earlier.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: A
Mains Questions:
Q.1) To what extent the Brazil’s attitude to the destruction of large areas of the Amazon rainforest is worrying. Critically explain.