2022 Year in Review

These indigenous remains, belonging
to former complex communities
based in the region known as the
Llanos de Mojos, are only now being
found.
There is an ongoing battle against
deforestation destroying these sites
before archaeologists can study
them. Unchecked and illegal
deforestation causes the loss of
artefacts of human history.
THE AMAZON AND
POLITICS
The long-term survival of the Amazon
rainforest, which is tens of million
years old, is essential for helping to
conserve a significant part of the
earth's biodiversity, indigenous
communities' existence and stabilise
the earth's climate. The effects of
unregulated deforestation, currently
occurring at damaging historical
rates, show the urgent need for
international support, regulations,
and policies if the Amazon rainforest
is to survive. This need for action has
been vocalised by many worldwide
and influenced 2022 political
elections, as well as contributed to
the increase of indigenous voices.
Despite experiencing dire setbacks in
2022, hope remains for the Amazon:
the election of Brazil's incoming
President,
Lula da Silva who has promised to
fight for the protection of the Amazon
and for zero deforestation, prompts
opportunities for reform and change.
Lula da Silva has shown in the past
that he can deliver this goal – during
his first Presidency deforestation
decreased by 70%.
LULA AND THE AMAZON
FUND
Lula's support for the Amazon has
been strengthened by the Brazilian
Supreme Court, which recently ruled
against outgoing President
Bolsonaro's freeze of the Amazon
Fund. The biggest fund for the
protection of forests, according to
one of the fund architects, Tasso
Azevedo. The court stated that
Bolsonaro's decision to suspend the
fund - based on the argument that to
reduce the region's poverty levels,
commercial farming, mining, and
logging were needed
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P H O T O : A N D R E P E N N E R / A P P H O T O