Half of the fires have devastated areas of old-growth forest. Emissions are on track to surpass the record set in 2007. In the Pantanal, the largest and oldest savanna in the world, a fire season like this has never been recorded
Copernicus EU System Data
In the first 9 months of 2024, record fires have devastated the two most important ecosystems in South America. Fires in the Amazon and Pantanal have generated 183 million tons of CO2 (MtCO2) up to September 19, of which one-third—65 MtCO2—occurred in just the last 20 days. This level is extremely high, matching that recorded in 2007, the worst year for fires on the continent.
Amazon and Pantanal Fires: 2024 Will Be the Worst Year
The figures come from the European satellite monitoring system Copernicus and confirm what risks becoming the annus horribilis of fires in the Amazon and Pantanal. The Brazilian Space Research Agency (Inpe) had already raised the alarm in recent days, reporting over 95,000 fires recorded in the Amazon alone in 2024 up to September 18, double that of 2023. Emission levels have consistently remained above average, with forest area lost in August larger than Denmark. Furthermore, according to Inpe, this year half of the fires in the Amazon and Pantanal have impacted old-growth forests, which are particularly crucial for the resilience of these ecosystems.
According to Copernicus, which measures emissions from satellites, the fires are concentrated primarily in the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Mato Grosso do Sul, where most of the Pantanal’s wetlands are located, the largest savanna in the world. Here, the estimated annual cumulative CO2 emissions are the highest recorded in 22 years of historical data. Bolivia is also facing a record with 76 MtCO2 (32 MtCO2 just in September), as the total annual emissions have already surpassed the highest ever recorded, dating back to 2010.
“The occurrence of these fires could be considered extraordinary, even taking into account that July to September is typically the fire season in the region,” explains Copernicus. “The extremely high temperatures that South America has experienced in recent months, the prolonged drought indicated by low soil moisture, and other climatological factors have likely contributed to the significant increase in the scope of fire emissions, smoke, and impacts on air quality.”
