A RELAÇÃO ENTRE FOGO FLORESTAL E DESMATAMENTO NA AMAZÔNIA

This report analyzes the link between forest fires and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon (2013-2020). It finds that while only 11% of fire-affected forest is directly converted to clear-cut deforestation within three years, fire is a strong indicator of regional risk, with high rates of nearby deforestation. This association is particularly strong in rural settlements and public land holdings, suggesting fire's role in land grabbing. Regional disparities exist, with significant intensification of this pattern in states like Acre and Pará.

• Between 2013 and 2020, an average of 42% of annual fire hotspots in the Brazilian Amazon occurred in forest areas that had never been deforested. This represents a potentially affected area of over 18,000 square kilometers of forest per year, which is more than double the annual deforestation rate for that period.
• Fire in the Amazon is not systematically used as an initial stage for vegetation removal. On average, only 11% of forest areas affected by fire progress to clear-cut deforestation within three years.
• While local conversion to deforestation is low, fire serves as a regional risk indicator. There is a high probability of deforestation occurring in the vicinity of fire-affected areas; for example, in 2017, the percentage of fire-affected areas with subsequent deforestation within 0.5 kilometers ranged between 20% and 50%.
• The association between fire and subsequent nearby deforestation is approximately 35% stronger in rural settlements and holdings on public lands (posses em terras públicas) compared to the average for all land categories. In public land holdings, fire may be used as a cheap and fast method for land grabbing (grilagem).
• Regional analysis shows that states with the highest concentrations of fire also have the highest concentrations of deforestation. Between 2013 and 2020, Pará accounted for 33% of fire hotspots and 39% of deforested area, while Mato Grosso accounted for 18% and 23%, respectively.
• There has been a significant intensification of the relationship between fire and subsequent nearby deforestation in the states of Acre, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia, and Roraima, particularly in 2017. In contrast, this association remained relatively constant in other states.

APA

Menezes, D., Pucci, R., Mourão, J., & Gandour, C. (2021). A RELAÇÃO ENTRE FOGO FLORESTAL E DESMATAMENTO NA AMAZÔNIA. Climate Policy Initiative. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/DQ-FogoFlorestal-PT.pdf

Chicago

Menezes, Diego, Rafael Pucci, João Mourão, and Clarissa Gandour. A RELAÇÃO ENTRE FOGO FLORESTAL E DESMATAMENTO NA AMAZÔNIA. Climate Policy Initiative, 2021. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/DQ-FogoFlorestal-PT.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Menezes |first1=Diego |last2=Pucci |first2=Rafael |last3=Mourão |first3=João |last4=Gandour |first4=Clarissa |title=A RELAÇÃO ENTRE FOGO FLORESTAL E DESMATAMENTO NA AMAZÔNIA |publisher=Climate Policy Initiative |date=December 2021 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/DQ-FogoFlorestal-PT.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{menezes2021relao, author = {Menezes, Diego and Pucci, Rafael and Mourão, João and Gandour, Clarissa}, title = {{A RELAÇÃO ENTRE FOGO FLORESTAL E DESMATAMENTO NA AMAZÔNIA}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2021}, month = dec, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/DQ-FogoFlorestal-PT.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }