This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro contributed to deforestation through statements opposing forest conservation, according to an international study led by the University of Bonn. The study found that destruction of the Amazon rainforest accelerated when Bolsonaro and his ministers posted messages opposing forest conservation on Twitter.
Brazil's environmental authorities were greatly weakened during Bolsonaro's presidency, but the analysis suggests that even a perceived low risk of punishment was a driver of deforestation. The researchers estimate that the statements contributed to the destruction of up to 1,700 square kilometers (660 square miles) of forest—almost double the area of Berlin. The results were published in The Journal of Politics.
Can political leaders influence whether people comply with the law simply through what they say? The study uses Brazil as an example of how they can. The country is home to the largest section of the Amazon rainforest.
In 2018, Brazilians elected Bolsonaro president. In the first months of his presidency, he and his ministers repeatedly made derogatory remarks about protecting the ecosystem. The study found that statements by the Bolsonaro government accelerated destruction of the rainforest.
"We analyzed data from the initiative MapBiomas Alerta," said Dr. Gustavo Magalhães de Oliveira. "This initiative reviews and validates deforestation alerts from various sources covering the whole of Brazil.
We also examined more than 3,600 Twitter posts that Bolsonaro and his ministers of agriculture, environment, and foreign affairs published in 2019." The researchers analyzed which posts suggested a lower risk of enforcement for violations of environmental laws. They identified 38 such posts. Political messages are effective only if they are heard.
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