More than 300,000 fires have burned more than 80 million hectares and claimed hundreds of lives across South America this year, reports Ben Radford.
Amazon forest fires
The Amazon will play a critical role in determining the future of life on Earth, given the climate regulating role the rainforest plays, writes Thiago Ãvila.
Environmental activists rallied in Melbourne and Sydney on August 25 in response to fires destroying the Amazon rainforest.
"The Amazon rainforest has been burning for three weeks! We are on the verge of losing it completely if the fire isn't put out. The loss of trees, the loss of biodiversity is what is accelerating climate change."