Beyond the smoke

Authors

In brief

Brazil is home to six major biomes and to one of the most biodiverse territories on the planet, and it has seen a worrying rise in fire activity over the past decade. Using satellite detections of more than three million fire spots recorded between 2010 and 2024, the authors trace the temporal and geographical patterns of wildfire across the country, and argue for sustained monitoring and policies that connect local realities to global climate action.

“Numbers alone cannot capture the full consequences. Behind each fire spot lies a story of ecological and human disruption.”

What the article covers

• A strong seasonal cycle peaking between August and October, with sporadic fires the rest of the year.
• Why normalising by area matters: per thousand square kilometres, the Pantanal and Cerrado are disproportionately affected.
• The catastrophic Pantanal spike of 2020, and a second surge in 2024.
• Fire as an ecological, social and economic crisis rather than a purely environmental one.

How to cite

Jonatha Pimentel, Rodrigo Bulhões and Paulo Canas Rodrigues. “Beyond the smoke.” vISIon: The ISI Magazine Vol. 1 No. 1, October 2025, pp. 3–6.