During a flight from São Paulo to Espírito Santo, something alarming caught my attention. From up there, through the small airplane window, what should have been a clear sky and a serene landscape turned into an apocalyptic scene. Along the way between the two states, I counted thirty wildfire hotspots. Simultaneous.
The horizon, the ground, everything was covered by a thick layer of smoke. The feeling of helplessness was overwhelming. The images illustrating this text cannot fully convey the scale of the disaster happening below.
In moments like this, silence is not an option. As a nature photographer, my mission goes beyond capturing the beauty of the natural world; I have a responsibility to show the world what we are losing. This feeling accompanies me in every photo and intensifies as I witness the fire consuming our country from above.
Reflecting on Destruction
In my previous article about spiders and my reflections on life, I shared a phrase I often think about: "As individuals, we are fantastic; as a society, we are irrationally reckless!" Every day, these words make more sense. I was born and raised loving nature, but I see how we are heading in the wrong direction. The floods in the south, the droughts in the Pantanal, and these endless wildfires are clear signs that our connection with the planet is broken.
Flying over Brazil and seeing so many active fires was terrifying. How did we get here? And more importantly, how can some still deny what is right in front of their eyes? The truth is, we are witnessing the consequences of years of disregard for environmental laws, the greed of those who put profit above life, and the negligence that only increases the suffering of people and animals.
Fire spots on diferent locations see at the plane | Photo: Leonardo Merçon / Últimos Refúgios
The Burden of Greed
I can't help but feel angry when I see politicians and businesspeople fighting to reduce the protection of our biomes. They want to make legal reserves smaller, even as tragedies multiply. For some, it seems that destroying nature brings a kind of morbid pleasure, a sense of power. I can't find any other explanation. How did we reach the point where destruction became a goal?
I remember 20 years ago when we warned about the disasters we face today. Back then, they called us "eco-nuts." Now I hear "environmental freaks." They can call us whatever they want, but we are not the ones responsible for the disasters that harm millions of people. You, who harm nature without remorse, are building a dark future, and tragically, it’s for all of us.
When Money Can't Save You
As I flew over that land on fire, I thought, "What is all this for? The money in the pockets of those destroying the forest won’t save their homes from floods or guarantee water when the droughts hit." And they are coming. One day, all that accumulated money won’t be enough to buy a way out of the impending social collapse.
We are creating our own "climate refugees." Who could have imagined that this term would apply to Brazil? Yet here we are, with climate disasters at our doorstep and decision-makers still blind to reality. It seems to be more than just greed; it feels like a deep disconnect, as if they are destroying the planet just to fill a void in their own lives.
The New Normal: Announced Tragedies
Recently, I saw maps showing deforestation around the cities most affected by the floods in Rio Grande do Sul. It was frightening. The watersheds are devastated, the rivers silted up, and the water that should infiltrate the soil reaches the cities too quickly. What we see today is the result of decades of neglect.
We should be increasing the legal reserves of the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado, protecting our forests and rivers, restoring what has been destroyed. But instead, we are regressing.
More fire spots, this time close to the urban centers | Photos: Leonardo Merçon / Últimos Refúgios
What we are doing is a crime, not only against the flawed environmental laws of our society but against humanity. Progress and sustainability must go hand in hand, not at the expense of nature's destruction.
A Necessary Awakening
Every time I see a forest being destroyed, I know the next fire will be even stronger and more destructive. The changes are happening too fast for nature—and for us—to adapt.
We are losing balance, and that worries me deeply. When I was a child living in Vitória-ES, I didn’t need air conditioning. Today, I can't sleep in my bed without one. Even before developing my environmental consciousness, this was a sign that the planet was changing, and not for the better.
Some say global warming is natural, and they are partially right, as always with their half-truths. But they ignore the role we humans play in this process. Deforestation, greenhouse gases, all of this is accelerating a change that would otherwise take millions of years to happen. Nature is not adapting fast enough, and that includes us.
We Cannot Give Up
Despite everything, I still believe there is hope. We cannot stop fighting. Each of us has the power to make a difference. And I’m not just talking about environmentalists, but everyone. We need to restore forests, protect our rivers, and save what’s left. Above all, we need to act NOW.
Unfortunately, this week’s story is a bit different. But I believe it was necessary. See you in the next adventure!
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Nature photographer and cinematographer, founder of Instituto Últimos Refúgios, Master in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development, passionate about the environment! Join me on this incredible journey of wildlife discoveries and see more beautiful stories as I constantly explore nature.
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