Bonito, ecotourism major destination, leads deforestation rank in the Atlantic Rainforest

A survey conducted by the NGO SOS Mata Atlântica in partnership with the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) places the municipality of Bonito, located in Mato Grosso do Sul state, at the top of the ten Brazilian cities that led deforestation of the biome between 2019 and 2020. There were 416 hectares of native vegetation lost in the period, which is equivalent to more than one soccer field per day.

Heard by G1, Fernando Guedes Pinto, director of the organization, spoke about the consequences of the devastation for the environment and for the economy of Bonito, a major destination for ecotourism in Brazil. “Besides causing cities to become increasingly warmer, the reduction of green areas threatens the availability and quality of water. The water crisis we are experiencing today is a reflection of this. In the case of Bonito, the damage can be even more serious, because it puts at risk the tourism that moves the city’s economy”, he declared.