Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia see surging wildfire emissions

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00:00 Brazilian workers log and remove charred trees as nearly 3,000 wildfires continue to rage

00:07 in northwestern Brazil, devastating wildlife and threatening native communities.

00:11 "We are suffering the consequences of climate change.

00:16 We're again looking for information, trying to examine the consequences for us as an indigenous

00:21 population and also for the environment.

00:25 How are we going to face this?

00:27 How can we alleviate this situation?"

00:31 The Brazilian government estimates that wildfires in January and February have increased by

00:36 465 percent over last year.

00:39 In addition, this month's estimated carbon emissions from fires in Brazil, Venezuela

00:44 and Bolivia have been the highest of any February in 21 years, according to the Copernicus Atmosphere

00:51 Monitoring Service.

00:53 This is unusual for the region, as peak season for wildfires normally ranges from September

00:58 to October.

01:00 Recent regional wildfires have released almost 10 megatons of carbon into the atmosphere,

01:06 causing long-lasting climate change impacts and more immediate air quality issues.

01:11 "There are some components, some chemicals released from these emissions which can persist

01:19 for longer in the atmosphere and then they could potentially affect air quality hundreds

01:24 or thousands of kilometers downwind."

01:27 Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has made protection of the rainforest a cornerstone

01:33 of his administration, vowing to eliminate deforestation by 2030.

01:38 His government has proposed large-scale crackdowns on illegal logging and mining operations,

01:44 as well as sought international financing for a fund to pay landowners to protect forest

01:49 areas.

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