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"The Amazon is burning at an alarming rate as tens of thousands of fires lay waste to the world's largest tropical rainforest. 

There have been more than 74,000 wildfires across Brazil this year, up 85% over the same period in 2018, and about 40,000 of them are burning in the Amazon", according to the country's National Institute of Space Research. 

 "...often called "the lungs of the world," absorbing greenhouse gases that would otherwise harm the planet. It also is home to a number of indigenous people and wildlife, both reside inside the forest and rely on the forest's resources."  -- assigned  photojournalist

"People who want to clear land in the Amazon for business prospects are cutting down portions of the forest, leaving them out to dry and setting them on fire. With the trees out of the way, they have room to grow crops or raise cattle.

This practice is illegal but is not being monitored by Brazil's government,"  said Nigel Sizer, chief program officer of Rainforest Alliance. Not only is the government turning the other way, President Jair Bolsonaro is encouraging the practice, Sizer said. 

Amazonia, Brazil - Rainforest 2019 Fires Rage On. Below, Photos and Videos of current status reported.

"With confidence, we can say that a lot of that is illegal and is happening because the government has given the nod to illegal clearing and burning across the Amazon," Sizer said. "The president has even encouraged the invasion of indigenous territories and areas that the previous administrations have really been working hard to protect."