Wildfires and their toll on Brazil: Who's counting the cost?
• Wildfires in Brazil cause billion-dollar losses, harming biodiversity, health, and the economy. • Wildfire spreads toxic smoke across South America, straining the healthcare system. • Wildfires cause massive biodiversity loss, and we barely know how to measure it. • Despite substantial economic losses in tropical habitats, the Global South remains a low priority. Rampant wildfires in Brazil are imposing severe biodiversity declines, incrementing public health problems, and negatively affecting the nationwide economy. Influenced by political interests, wildfires have far-reaching impacts on small-scale farming, essential services, and ecosystems. Hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular issues increased due to smoke exposure, overburdening the health system. Moreover, wildfires contribute to long-term biodiversity loss, degrading natural habitats and disrupting ecological functions and ecosystem services. We probe a critical question: What are the costs of Brazil's wildfires? We foster a discussion of a comprehensive approach to assessing the financial toll across sectors of the national economy, guiding data-driven strategies for mitigation and environmental restoration.
Authors
- Diana Campos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3272-9360)
- Manoel dos Santos Filho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9784-7114)
- Edvagner de Oliveira
- Acisa Raimunda de Souza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9262-8238)
- Claumir César Muniz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2082-2234)
- Wilkinson Lopes Lázaro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6499-6631)
- Juliano A. Bogoni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8541-0556)
- Ernandes Sobreira
- Angélica Vilas Boas da Frota (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3693-4756)
- Sandra de Souza Hacon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8222-0992)
- Eliane Ignotti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9743-1856)
- Áurea Regina Alves Ignácio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4672-1818)
- Dionei José da Silva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6189-9756)
- Breno Dias Vitorino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5293-8581)
- C. Megan Young (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9953-8753)
- Luis López-Ramirez
- Cleverson Ricardo Soares Viana
Institutions
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (BR)
- Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso (BR)
- Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública (BR)
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation
- Published
- 2025-06-17
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecon.2025.06.003
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.11