Animals are going up in flames – record fires in the Amazon

Ants and sloths have nowhere to go when the Amazon is on fire. This year's fire season in South America is unprecedented, according to WWF. We can now see that it's very many of the larger animals that are actually burning up, says Olle Forshed, expert on rainforest and biological diversity.

» Published: October 30 2024

Animals are going up in flames – record fires in the Amazon
Photo: F Guiterrez/WWF

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) describes an acute situation with extensive forest fires in South America.

In the Brazilian part of the Amazon, around 105,000 fires have started this year (until the end of September). This is an increase of 84 percent compared to the same period last year. And if you count all natural fires in Brazil, outside of the Amazon as well, an area equivalent to half of Sweden has been ravaged by fire this year.

Rapid developments

There have been rapid developments and large areas, so there is nowhere to flee, says Olle Forshed.

Tree-dwelling species, such as ants and sloths, are among those that are severely affected.

Even if they may survive the flames, they then have nowhere to return to.

This year has been the driest ever in the region. Another strong contributing factor to the extent and frequency of the fires is deforestation. A rainforest should not be able to burn, notes Olle Forshed.

But when you thin them out and cut down parts of them, it becomes drier in these forests.

Dangerous tipping point

Deforestation has gone so far that the Amazon is approaching a dangerous tipping point. So far, the giant rainforest area as a whole functions as a carbon sink, absorbing much of the carbon dioxide emitted. If the tipping point is passed, the Amazon will instead become a source of carbon dioxide emissions.

Today, it is estimated that 17 percent of the Amazon has been deforested. The tipping point is believed to occur when the area is deforested to 20-25 percent.

If it happens, it will have an irreversible effect, then it will become a drier climate on this continent. The rainforest cannot exist and other types of ecosystems will form. It will become drier and savannah-like.

The Amazon is the world's largest tropical rainforest area. In the Brazilian part of the Amazon, the number of fires from January to September this year has been 84 percent higher than last year.

Most of the fires have been caused by humans, including in connection with burning land to create new agricultural and grazing areas.

Deforestation and thinning of forests make them more prone to fire.

The recent months' forest fires in South America have been the worst in over 20 years, according to the EU's climate service Copernicus.

Tags

TTT
By TT - Translated and adapted by Sweden Herald under license from TT

More news

Explosion Damages Building in Central
1 MIN READ

Explosion Damages Building in Central Stockholm, No Injuries Reported

Explosion Damages Malmö Apartment Door,
1 MIN READ

Explosion Damages Malmö Apartment Door, No Injuries Reported

Teen Receives Medical Attention After
1 MIN READ

Teen Receives Medical Attention After Dog Bite in Linköping

Man Fined for Explosion Caused
1 MIN READ

Man Fined for Explosion Caused by Attempt to Deep-Fry Chili Cheese

Fire at Gothenburg Refinery Injures
1 MIN READ

Fire at Gothenburg Refinery Injures Three, One Seriously

Climate Activists Arrested on Malmö
1 MIN READ

Climate Activists Arrested on Malmö Airport Runway

Extreme Weather and Viruses Threaten
2 MIN READ

Extreme Weather and Viruses Threaten Global Blood Donation Supply

Riders and Horses Rescued from
1 MIN READ

Riders and Horses Rescued from Bog Near Karlstad Airport

Five Rescued from Burning Fishing
1 MIN READ

Five Rescued from Burning Fishing Boat Near Strömstad

Avalanche Risk High in Swedish
1 MIN READ

Avalanche Risk High in Swedish Mountains: Stay Clear of Steep Slopes

Understanding April's Unpredictable Weather: Insights
2 MIN READ

Understanding April's Unpredictable Weather: Insights from a Meteorologist

Sweden Boosts Egg Exports as
3 MIN READ

Sweden Boosts Egg Exports as Bird Flu Hits Global Supply

Man Jailed for Missing Military
1 MIN READ

Man Jailed for Missing Military Exercise to Care for Children

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Kalmarposten Closes After 35 Years Due to Advertising Revenue Shortfall

Police Probe Possible Link Between
2 MIN READ

Police Probe Possible Link Between Gislaved Shooting and Värnamo Stabbing

Fire at Umeå's Abandoned Industrial
1 MIN READ

Fire at Umeå's Abandoned Industrial Site Extinguished

Police Investigate Gunshot Sounds Near
1 MIN READ

Police Investigate Gunshot Sounds Near Swedish Airbase

Two Arrested in Connection with
1 MIN READ

Two Arrested in Connection with Biskopsgården Double Murder

Man Convicted of Gross Sexual
2 MIN READ

Man Convicted of Gross Sexual Assault for Allowing Child to Touch Genitals

Iran Takes Legal Action Against
1 MIN READ

Iran Takes Legal Action Against Sweden and Others Over 2020 Plane Incident

Two Detained in Södermanland Over
1 MIN READ

Two Detained in Södermanland Over Suspected Fatal Incident

Police Recover Escaped Boys from
1 MIN READ

Police Recover Escaped Boys from Sollefteå Sis Home; Investigation Launched

Care Company Profits Millions from
1 MIN READ

Care Company Profits Millions from Unused Elderly Home Spaces

Convicted Man Escapes Custody During
1 MIN READ

Convicted Man Escapes Custody During Hospital Visit in Sweden

Swedes Evacuated from Gaza Share
1 MIN READ

Swedes Evacuated from Gaza Share Relief and Longing for Home

Police Seek UK Assistance in
1 MIN READ

Police Seek UK Assistance in Örebro Massacre Investigation

Man Dies from Injuries After
1 MIN READ

Man Dies from Injuries After Helsingborg Apartment Fire

Easter Travel Chaos: Multiple Accidents
2 MIN READ

Easter Travel Chaos: Multiple Accidents Cause Major Traffic Disruptions

Teenage Girl Faces Detention Request
1 MIN READ

Teenage Girl Faces Detention Request for Kidnapping in Karlskrona

Two Seniors Killed in Nordanstig
1 MIN READ

Two Seniors Killed in Nordanstig Traffic Collision

Researchers Find Potential Life Indicators
2 MIN READ

Researchers Find Potential Life Indicators on Distant Planet K2-18b

Fraud Suspects Arrested for Double
1 MIN READ

Fraud Suspects Arrested for Double Murder in Ethiopia

Dual Medication Approach Reduces Heart
3 MIN READ

Dual Medication Approach Reduces Heart Attack Risks, Swedish Study Finds

Gothenburg Family Sentenced for Cultivating
1 MIN READ

Gothenburg Family Sentenced for Cultivating and Selling Drug Mushrooms

Woman Hospitalized After Dog Attack
1 MIN READ

Woman Hospitalized After Dog Attack in Tyringe

Vasa Ship's Herring Offers Clues
1 MIN READ

Vasa Ship's Herring Offers Clues on Fish Adaptation to Climate Change