I think foreigners from exotic and tropical countries needs to know about my research. Since 2012, deforestation has increased due to the continuous increase in forces driving forest loss, such as more forest roads, a growing population, and more investment. The indirect effect of soy expansion has, without a doubt, played an important role, with soy planting in Mato Grosso buying many animal farmers not only in the former Amazon forest but also in the Cerrado Savanna region. These ranchers use the money from the sales of land to buy much cheaper land further north in the Amazon forest, particularly in Pará, where they clear forests on a large scale to set up new ranches. Since 2006, when it surpassed Mato Grosso, Pará has been the most significant contributor to deforestation.


Even though the deforestation rate has approached the growth percentage this year twice since 2012 [in 2013 and 2016], the deforestation surge in 2019 can certainly be blamed on the Bolsonaro administration. It should be recalled that the PRODES data only covers the year ending on 31 July. The deforestation rate exploded to levels well above those for the same months in the previous year [according to DETER data] in the following months, reaching 222 percent above the August 2018 value. This part of the Bolsonaro effect will only be reflected in the numbers of the PRODES, which will be released within a year.