Mid-2020 Brazil wildfires: rainforest and Pantanal fires tracked by INPE satellites

Mid-2020 Brazil wildfires tracked by INPE satellites: orbital imagery recorded thousands of fires across Amazon rainforests and the Pantanal, documenting widespread vegetation loss and regional environmental impacts

Author: Leandro Alegsa Creation date: November 14, 2022 Last updated: April 12, 2026

From June until September 2020, widespread wildfires burned across parts of Brazil, affecting significant areas of its rainforests.

Monitoring and counts

Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) used orbital imagery to track the outbreak. In June they reported that their satellites had recorded 2,248 distinct fire events. For comparison, there were 1,880 fires recorded in June 2019.

Damage estimate

By August 2020, assessments indicated that more than 12% of the vegetation in the Pantanal region had been consumed or severely affected by the fires.

Questions and Answers

Q: What were the 2020 Brazil wildfires?

A: The 2020 Brazil wildfires were a group of wildfires that began burning Brazil's rainforests in June and continued into September.

Q: What was the percentage of plants burned in the Pantanal rainforest by August?

A: By August, more than 12% of all the plants in the Pantanal rainforest had burned.

Q: What information did Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) provide about the wildfires in June?

A: In June, Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) said its satellites had taken pictures of 2,248 fires.

Q: How did the number of fires in June 2020 compare to June 2019?

A: In June 2019, there had been 1,880 fires, while in June 2020, Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) said its satellites had taken pictures of 2,248 fires.

Q: When did the Brazil wildfires start and for how long did they burn?

A: The wildfires began burning in June and continued into September.

Q: What area of Brazil was affected by the wildfires?

A: The Pantanal rainforest was affected by the wildfires.

Q: How much of the plants in the Pantanal rainforest were burnt by August?

A: By August, more than 12% of all the plants in the Pantanal rainforest had burnt due to the wildfires.

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