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How Bolsonaro's statements destroyed the rainforest

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 29/09/2026, 00:25:24 UTC.

Briefings

An international study led by the University of Bonn found that former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's opposition to forest conservation on Twitter accelerated Amazon deforestation. The analysis indicates that even a perceived low risk of punishment was a driver of destruction, with the researchers estimating up to 1,700 square kilometers of forest loss. Brazil's environmental authorities were significantly weakened during his presidency, though the study does not specify the exact timeline of these weakening effects. The findings were published in The Journal of Politics.

Key points

• Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's opposition to forest conservation on Twitter accelerated Amazon deforestation, according to an international study led by the University of Bonn.
• The study estimates that Bolsonaro's statements contributed to the destruction of up to 1,700 square kilometers of forest, nearly double the area of Berlin.

Context and limitations

The study was published in The Journal of Politics and relies on data from international sources. Specific dates for when Bolsonaro's statements occurred are not provided, and the exact timeline of how his presidency weakened environmental authorities remains unclear.

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