Deforestation

Indigenous peoples, some with their faces painted and wearing feathered headdresses, stand by Pope Francis as he celebrates an opening Mass for the Amazon synod, in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. Pope Francis is opening a divisive meeting on preserving the Amazon and ministering to its indigenous peoples, as he fends off attacks from conservatives who are opposed to his ecological agenda. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro speaks at a ceremony to kickoff the Economic Freedom Project, at the Planalto Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. This is Bolsonaro's first public event since his Sept. 8th surgery. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazil's Minister of the Environment Ricardo Salles smiles for a photo during an interview with The Associated Press in Washington, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. After facing international criticism for steeply rising rates of deforestation in the Amazon, Salles is visiting the U.S., France, Germany, and the United Kingdom to insist that there’s no big problem. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick

Brazil's Minister of the Environment Ricardo Salles smiles for a photo during an interview with The Associated Press in Washington, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. After facing international criticism for steeply rising rates of deforestation in the Amazon, Salles is visiting the U.S., France, Germany, and the United Kingdom to insist that there’s no big problem. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick

Pope Francis holds his skull cap in the Soamandrakizay esplanade as he celebrates a vigil with youth in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. Francis is in Madagascar for the second leg of his weeklong trip to Africa. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis and Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina, right, arrive at the Ceremony Palace in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. Francis is in Madagascar for the second leg of his weeklong trip to Africa. (AP Photo/Alexander Joe)

Pope Francis talks with Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina during his meeting with authorities at the Ceremony Palace in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. Francis is in Madagascar for the second leg of his weeklong trip to Africa.(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis talks with Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina during his meeting with authorities at the Ceremony Palace in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. Francis is in Madagascar for the second leg of his weeklong trip to Africa.(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

This Aug. 26, 2019 satellite image provided by NASA shows the African continent. While the world has turned its gaze to fires blazing in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, satellite images show a far greater number of fires on the African continent. But experts say the situation in Africa is different and not yet a growing problem. NASA has called Africa the “fire continent” where on an average August day at least 70 percent of the 10,000 fires burning worldwide are here. Yet the agency says the number of fires is consistent from year to year. (NASA via AP)

In this photo taken Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019 people hold a placard demonstration in Cape Town, South Africa, in protest against fires burning in Brazil's Amazon rainforest. Satellite images show a far greater number of fires burning on the African continent but experts say the situation in Africa is different and not yet a growing problem attributing the abundance of fires across the savannah lands to agricultural technique by small farmers cultivating fields. (AP Photo)