In the heart of Brazil's Amazon region, an old acquaintance known as "Red John" continues to wreak havoc on the world's largest tropical forest. This fiery phenomenon, locally nicknamed "Joao Vermelho," represents the deeply entrenched practice of using fire to clear pastures for cattle ranching - a tradition that now threatens global climate goals.
The Uncontrollable Worker
For landowners and ranchers in Sao Felix do Xingu, fire remains the cheapest tool for maintaining pastures. Antonio Carlos Batista, who manages 900 cattle, explains the economic reality: "Fire is a cheap way to maintain pasture. Labor is expensive, pesticides are expensive. Here we don't have any public funding." During dry seasons, a simple combination of gasoline and match gets the job done, with locals casually remarking they're "going to hire the worker Red John."
However, this seemingly helpful worker turned destructive in 2024. An unprecedented drought linked to climate change caused fires to blaze out of control, scorching nearly 18 million hectares (44.5 million acres) of Brazilian Amazon. The environmental consequences were severe - deforestation increased by four percent in the twelve months leading to July, reversing the 30 percent decline achieved the previous year.
Economic Realities vs Environmental Catastrophe
The municipality of Sao Felix do Xingu recorded more than 7,000 fire outbreaks, the highest in Brazil. For the first time, more tropical forest burned than grassland, with most fires originating from cattle ranches before spreading through dry vegetation to forested areas.
Gleyson Carvalho, foreman at the Bom Jardim ranch housing 12,000 cattle, acknowledges the dual nature of fire. "On the one hand, it's good," he says, noting that burned vegetation acts as natural fertilizer. However, last year's uncontrollable fires "devoured everything," leaving cattle without food and forcing ranchers to struggle to prevent animal deaths.
Satellite data from Mapbiomas revealed that more than two-thirds of the Bom Jardim ranch burned. The property belongs to former Sao Felix mayor Joao Cleber, who has faced repeated fines for deforestation and environmental crimes.
Cultural Roots and Political Challenges
The fire culture runs deep among farmers who migrated from southern Brazil during the 1960s and 1970s, encouraged by the military regime's slogan: "A land without men for men without land." Today, small farmers like Dalmi Pereira feel caught between environmental demands and economic survival. "They call us criminals of the Amazon," Pereira laments, "but no one helps us."
Despite Para state banning pasture maintenance fires last year, enforcement remains weak. As one local explained, WhatsApp networks quickly alert communities when environmental officials approach, allowing violators to hide equipment and flee.
The situation represents a significant setback for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who pledged to eradicate deforestation by 2030. Environment Minister Marina Silva acknowledges that "the big challenge is deforestation caused by fires."
Hope Amidst the Ashes
There are signs of improvement in 2024, with fires at their lowest level since records began in 1998. Experts attribute this to a combination of climate factors and increased human caution following the previous year's trauma.
Ibama president Rodrigo Agostinho notes intensified surveillance since Lula returned to office, though the challenge remains enormous across the Amazon's five million square kilometers. The agency is now using artificial intelligence to improve enforcement.
As Brazil prepares to host the COP30 UN climate conference in Belem this November, the world watches whether the country can balance economic realities with environmental preservation. The fate of the Amazon - and global climate efforts - may depend on finding alternatives to Red John's destructive embrace.
