Why the Amazon Rainforest Is on Fire—and Why it’s Getting Worse

"Illegal farming has long eaten away at the edges of protected regions within the state of Pará. Farmers who illegally raze the forest often are not prosecuted, and a law passed in July makes it easier for them to claim legal ownership of land developed unlawfully. Bolsonaro, who was elected with massive support from rural areas, has claimed that environmental groups and regulators are an “industry of fines,” and a New York Times investigation found that his administration has not enforced laws on the books intended to preserve the Amazon"

read more and see the maps: Why the Amazon Rainforest Is on Fire—and Why it’s Getting Worse