Brazil suspends monitoring operations for fires and deforestation

Brazil's Environment Ministry announced that operations against deforestation and burning in the Amazon and Pantanal would be suspended as of Monday (August 31) due to a R$60 million blockade in the portfolio, by order of the Planalto economic sector. The official note states that "this afternoon (Friday, 27/08) there was a financial unblocking of the resources of IBAMA and ICMBIO and that, therefore, operations to combat illegal deforestation and fires will continue normally".Those affected by the measure were the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio; R$39.7 million blockade) and the Brazilian Institute of the Environment (Ibama; R$20.9 million blockade).