More About Brazil

Illegal Gold Rush Destroying Amazon Rainforest

Researchers identified at least 2,312 illegal mining sites across six countries in South America using satellite imagery and government data

"Illegal mining is a serious threat to the Amazon rainforest and the indigenous peoples who call it home," said Moira Birss of Amazon Watch, a U.S.-based non-profit group. "This report provides important new data and clearly demonstrates the scope of the problem, and as such is a call to action to regional governments and the companies that purchase the illegally-mined minerals to take bold, concrete action to stop the destruction."

US Funds with Big Amazon Farming Stakes Face Bolsonaro Choice

Finance to be "very important" tool if Brazil’s government strips Amazon protections, say researchers

Amazon Watch is running a campaign against BlackRock for its investments in companies that cause deforestation in the Amazon. In the past, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has called on companies to invest with social and climate impact in mind.

Why Jair Bolsonaro's Presidency Threatens Disaster for the Brazilian Amazon

The extreme right-wing candidate Jair Bolsonaro was elected Brazil's president on Sunday in a victory that hands him a powerful mandate to enact a series of sweeping changes to the country's political, economic, social, and environmental order. His victory represents a profound setback for human rights and ecological preservation in the world's fourth largest democracy, with implications for the entire planet, particularly global climate stability.

Brazil's Political Crisis Demands Renewed Global Solidarity

Now more than ever, Amazon Watch will redouble its work in solidarity with our embattled partners, from remote communities in the Brazilian Amazon to national organizations. Together, we shall power a resistance movement against the abomination of Jair Bolsonaro, forging solutions in defense of the rainforest's irreplaceable ecosystems and cultures.

Jair Bolsonaro: Looming Threat to the Amazon and Global Climate?

With little more than a week to go until a runoff election, far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro – who has affirmed his intention to withdraw Brazil from the Paris Climate Agreement – continues to be the rising political star in the world's eighth biggest economy, and the nation that stands as guardian to a major portion of the Amazon, the globe's largest remaining rainforest.

Amazon in Focus 2018

While the threats to the Amazon and indigenous peoples seem daunting at times, we cannot lose sight of hope and victories on the horizon. And while the day-to-day isn't always good, there are still many reasons to be hopeful for the future of the Amazon. Indigenous peoples across the Amazon are resisting extraction and further destruction of their lands and promoting visionary solutions to protect their rights and territories.

Amplify! A Celebration of Voices from the Amazon

Thank you to all our friends and supporters who joined us on October 5th, 2018 for our annual gala - Amplify! A celebration of voices from the Amazon.

The Amazon on the Brink

Once a leader in protecting the region's vast forests, Brazil is now moving in the opposite direction

If the government's retrenchment on environmental protection continues, there may soon be nothing to stop the chain saws on the Amazonian frontier, where the rule of law can be weak and land is frequently seized and cleared illegally. This has implications beyond Brazil. The Amazon's lush forests make up the largest reserve of carbon dioxide on the surface of the earth. This potent greenhouse gas is released when forests are burned or bulldozed and left to decay.