Brazil has been an environmental hotspot for devastation due to Amazonian destruction. The fires burning across the region are an especially poignant and visible symbol of the destruction occurring. The rise in destruction has been linked to the upcoming Brazilian election on October 7, 2018. This article will discuss the increasing destruction and analyze the underlying factors that are driving these catastrophic events.

Amazonian Destruction and Its Effects
The Amazon rainforest is a vast environmental treasure. This lush, green biodiversity hotspot spans eight countries and is home to untold species of plants and animals. Despite its importance, the Amazon rainforest has faced increasing destruction, via industrial advancement and resource extraction. In particular, the brand of destruction caused by deforestation has soared to historic levels.

According to the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), deforestation in Brazil rose to over 9,000 square kilometers in July 2018 – a staggering 88% higher year-over-year rate and the highest observed deforestation rate since 2008. These events occur due to intensive and non-selective logging practices to create infrastructure for the livestock, construction, ranching and agricultural industries. Such unsustainable practices have flattened 8,000 acres of the Amazonian ecosystem since January.

The effects of Amazonian destruction are far-reaching. Without the bio-diverse Amazonian rainforest, humanity loses a major carbon-sink, reducing emissions globally, as well as a major source of medicinal herbs and plants. Additionally, the effects of climate change are visible in this region. The fires burning in the Amazon result in a drastically reduced vegetation cover, leading to massive amounts of carbon dioxide release into the atmosphere, causing the Earth’s temperature to rise even further. This destructive phenomena can be seen in the local aboriginal tribes and native populations of monkeys, fish, birds, and other animal species which are impacted by loss of habitat and other environmental changes.

Role of the Brazilian Elections in Amazonian Destruction
Brazil’s impending election on October 7, 2018 has been cited as a correlation to the rise in Amazonian destruction. This election determines who will become the next president of Brazil and hails for a pivotal moment for the Amazon rainforest.

Political Polarization
Brazilian politics has been embroiled in two large political factions – one from the left-leaning Workers’ Party and the other from the right-leaning Social Liberal Party. The two groups have polar opposite views about how the Amazon should be managed and preserved. Notably, the candidate for the right-leaning party, Jair Bolsonaro, is a vocal proponent of looser regulations to allow agribusinesses and forestry companies more leeway in resource extraction. On the other hand, the candidate of the left-leaning party, Fernando Haddad, has advocated for tighter regulation and greater enforcement of the condition in the Amazon.

The effects of this polarization have been felt by those living on the Amazon, with loggers and miners pressured to act illegally on the land to meet their extraction quotas in fear of a potential policy shift. This sort of opposition to law enforcement has risen in tandem with the political uncertainty, leading to a spike in Amazonian destruction.

Commodities Pressure
Brazil’s economy has been struggling for the last few years with its currency falling and commodity prices declining. This has placed pressure on the country to extract natural resources from the Amazon, as this is one of the few industries that is still able to benefit from these financially motivated extractions.

Additionally, the government infrastructure in place has led to modern land disputes between indigenous and non-indigenous populations, which has been seen as a source of the deforestation. The financial reward from these industries is one of the few undercurrents driving the deforestation, as well as a further push to provide even cheaper goods to global consumers.

International Pressure
International leaders have called out Brazil to cease the devastating destruction. Countries such as France and Germany have threatened to withdraw financial contributions to Brazil, unless it becomes a stronger actor in deforestation prevention. The G7 countries have also called for ‘swift and specific action’ against the destruction, with some leaders of influential countries, such as the U.S., calling for neighboring countries to support Brazil and help the Amazon rainforest return to its resilient state. This pressure has spurred the Brazilian government and its citizens to band together in support of the Amazon, with the hashtag #ForTheAmazon trending on social media and greater enforcement of anti-deforestation laws implemented.

Amazonian destruction has global effects, impacting not just the local environment, but also the atmosphere and other regions far beyond the already expansive rainforest. Political and economic pressures, especially before the Brazilian election in October 2018, are the factors driving this devastation. While international support has helped reduce the destruction in some areas, the recent rise in logging activities likely cannot be reversed for some time. Preventing further destruction of the Amazon rainforest, however, is now a priority with more comprehensive laws in place and with international support to assist Brazil in protecting its natural resources.