Brazil's environmental ministry has released preliminary figures showing that deforestation in the Amazon has hit its highest rate in a decade. The grim data comes amid concern about the policies of Jair Bolsonaro, the country's president. Between August 2018 and July 2019, approximately 11,088 square kilometers (4,281 square miles) of rainforest was destroyed, a 9.5 percent increase on the previous year.
Environmentalists have raised concerns about the figures and the situation is expected to continue to worsen under Bolsonaro. Since taking office, he has cut funding for federal agencies responsible for arresting people breaking environmental law in addition to encouraging mining and agricultural activities in the rainforest.
