“There are several strategies to invent trees, to increase their size, to use another name, several things that we found in the field to justify taking the timber from other regions”.

Listen to Edson Vidal, forest engineer

Cacalos Garrastazu/Eder Content 

THE BUSINESS BEHIND THE DEVASTATION

There is a very lucrative business behind the Amazon’s Forest deforestation: the illegal logging of precious timber for export. This is a business that has grown at an ever-increasing pace in Brazil over the last decade, and which has led the country to account for more than half of all the raw timber exported from Latin America.

Since the beginning of Bolsonaro administration, the official figures from the Department of Foreign Trade show an exponential increase in the sales of raw timber to foreign countries. Only in 2021, Brazil exported 2.6 million tons of raw timber, an increase of 91% in the exported volume compared to the previous year.

Brazilian raw timber exports have grown 6.356% in the last decade.

(value of the cubic meter/US$)

Trumpet tree (ipé)

244

Jatobá

109

Massaranduba

99

Muiracatiara

99

Red angelim

96

Source: Tropical Timber Market Report (ITTO) – vol. 26 / Fev 2022

Episode in pictures

Cacalos Garrastazu/Eder Content 

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In this area of the Itaituba I National Forest, in western Pará, we found a cargo of timber ready to be transported.

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The jatobá logs are among the most valuable in the timber market, worth more than US$100 per cubic meter.

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Access from the Sawré Muybu village to the Tapajós river, where small boats were waiting to take the Munduruku warriors for inspection.

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Chief Juarez Saw Munduruku, on his way to the inspection, has been fighting for many years for the demarcation of the Sawré Muybu indigenous territory.

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Once a year, the Munduruku people conduct an inspection in their territory to identify illegal mining and logging activities.

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Munduruku warriors open paths through the jungle and place signs to demarcate the indigenous territory, a job that should be done by FUNAI.

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Beka has been following the inspection of the territory's self-demarcation since 2014, recording her findings with a professional camera and cell phone during the activity.

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Inside the Sawré Muybu indigenous territory, an area outside the village perimeter keeps the remains of an old camp of illegal loggers.

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During the three days of our visit to Beka's village, forest animals wandered around friendly among the indigenous people and our team.

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From above, the drone shows the Sawré Muybu village in the middle of a huge preserved forest area, in the region of Middle Tapajós.