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.
