Amazon fires: Are they worse this year than before?

               

Preserving the Amazon rainforest is of global importance in the fight against climate change, but it is under threat from forest fires, mostly started to clear land for agriculture.Early numbers from this year's fire season show an increase, leading to concern from scientists.President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil recently said that claims the Amazon "is going up in flames" were not true, despite statistics published by his own government showing the spread of fires.So what does the data show about what's happening this year?

Is the forest in Brazil burning

Brazil is a huge country with many different environments, including grassland, wetland and rainforest.Some 60% of the Amazon rainforest is in Brazil, and it plays a vital role in absorbing harmful CO2 that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere. So there's particular concern about the damage that fires might,The total number of fires in Brazil's Amazon until July this year is high - but slightly lower than the same period last year.