The New York Times Reports That Bolsonaro has Slashed Amazon Protection

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Under the title “Amazon Protections Slashed and Forests Fall” and with front-page headlines, the story revisits the president’s decisions, as well as his criticism regarding data on deforestation.

“Mr. Bolsonaro has dismissed the new data on deforestation, calling his own government’s figures ‘lies’ — an assertion experts called baseless.”

“During a gathering with international journalists last week, the president called the preoccupation with the Amazon a form of ‘environmental psychosis‘ and argued that its use should not concern outsiders,” said the text, referring to the president’s opinion on figures released by the National Institute for Space Research (INPE).

Inpe has been at the center of the Bolsonaro government’s controversy since it pointed to an increase in deforestation in the first half of July when compared to the same month in 2018.

The article also recalls that Bolsonaro, as a presidential candidate, promised to relax environmental rules and cut the budget of the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama).

The text also cites the fine imposed on the then-federal deputy for Rio de Janeiro for fishing in a protected area.

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