Brazilian Amazon Fire Season Burned Area Equivalent to Portugal in 2024
Similar Articles
Brazilian Cerrado Wet Grassland Fire Observed After Lightning Strike
Amazon Rainforest Could Face Widespread Degradation by the 2040s Under Combined Deforestation and Warming
U.S. Forest Service Prescribed Burning Fell Sharply in 2025
Tropical Primary Forest Loss Declines Significantly in 2025
South American Cloud Forests Face Major Losses by 2070, Study Finds
In 2024, 15.6 million hectares of the Brazilian Amazon were burned, an area equivalent to Portugal. Data from MapBiomas indicates this burned area was 117% higher than the historical average. A two-decade study shows forest regeneration can occur after fires, though biodiversity loss persists.
Facts First
- 15.6 million hectares burned in 2024 — an area equivalent to Portugal.
- 43% of burned area was forest vegetation in the 2024 fire season.
- 2024 burned area was 117% higher than historical average according to MapBiomas.
- A two-decade study found forest regeneration occurs after fires though biodiversity loss persists.
- Study examined risks including deforestation, reduced precipitation, and droughts.
What Happened
In 2024, 15.6 million hectares of the Brazilian Amazon were burned, an area equivalent to the size of Portugal. Data from MapBiomas, a collaborative network mapping land use in Brazil, indicates the area destroyed by flames in 2024 was 117% higher than the historical average. Forty-three percent of the area burned in the 2024 Brazilian Amazon fire season consisted of forest vegetation.
Why this Matters to You
Large-scale burning releases carbon into the atmosphere, which may contribute to global climate patterns that affect weather and agriculture worldwide. The loss of forest vegetation can reduce biodiversity, potentially impacting ecosystems that provide resources and regulate climate. The research suggests that while the forest can regenerate after such events, the full ecological recovery, including biodiversity, might take longer.
What's Next
The long-term study, which began in 2004 during a peak of deforestation, will likely continue to monitor regeneration and risks. Researchers may use these findings to inform conservation strategies aimed at mitigating future fire impacts and supporting forest recovery.