Fires Devastate 15 Thousand Hectares in Pará Alone
O Liberal
September 21, 2000
An area of forest the size of 15 thousand football fields has been devastated by fires in Pará. 35 inspectors from the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA), working on the 'Stay Legal Amazon' project, fly over the area regularly since Monday by helicopter, but can do nothing to stop the fires' progress. They even have insufficient manpower and resources to properly fine those farmers and ranchers illegally starting the fires. Volunteers and environmental organisations are currently working towards preventing further fires with informative seminars and flyers. According to Sema Melgaço, superintendent of IBAMA in Pará, heavy rains have reduced the effect of the fires, and the total damage is significantly less than previous years.