“PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil: Deforestation exacerbated deadly Brazil floods: Experts highlight that the floods wreaking havoc in southern Brazil have been significantly worsened by deforestation, with soybean farming identified as a major driving factor. Urging the nation to prioritize forest restoration efforts, they emphasize the critical role of forests in retaining water through their extensive root systems.”
“The crucial agricultural hub of Rio Grande do Sul has been grappling with an unprecedented climate catastrophe for the past three weeks. Torrential rains have inundated cities and rural areas alike, leading to widespread devastation. Tragically, the deluge has resulted in the loss of over 150 lives, with approximately 100 individuals still unaccounted for, underscoring the severity of the situation.”
“It marks the fourth extreme weather event to strike the region in less than a year, a concerning trend attributed by scientists to the effects of climate change. Additionally, experts point to deforestation as a contributing factor exacerbating the intensity and frequency of these events, highlighting the urgent need for concerted action to address both climate and environmental challenges.”
Biologist Eduardo Velez from MapBiomas, an organization specializing in monitoring deforestation through satellite imagery, emphasizes, “There’s a global component to climate change, and also a regional one, which is the loss of native vegetation. That increased the intensity of the floods.” This statement underscores the dual impact of both global climate change and local deforestation practices on exacerbating the severity of natural disasters like floods.
