Parts of the Amazon Rainforest Are Being Sold on Facebook

How is the Amazon Rainforest being sold on Facebook?

The investigation found that enormous lots of Amazon rainforest, some as large as 1,000 football pitches, are being invaded, cleared and advertised on Facebook Marketplace. The land for sale includes national forests, land which is part of a protected area, or land reserved for Indigenous Peoples.

You simply have to set your location as one of the Amazonian states and type in the Portuguese words for terms like “forest”, “native jungle” and “timber” in order to access adverts for these plots, most of which do not have a land title to prove ownership of the land.

“The land invaders feel very empowered to the point that they are not ashamed of going on Facebook to make illegal land deals”.

A common strategy used by land grabbers appears to be that they go ahead and deforest the land without permission, and then request that the government remove its protected status once the land has already been cleared because they argue it no longer serves its purpose (thanks to their actions).

What are the damaging effects of these illegal land sales?

The adverts are putting the lives of Indigenous Peoples at risk as this is where many communities live. In fact, the Amazon rainforest is home to millions of people, and the investigation found that much of the attempted land selling is being done within Indigenous reserves. 

As well as this, the Amazon is the single largest remaining tropical rainforest in the world, and one of the most biodiverse places on Earth that is home to at least 10% of the world’s known biodiversity, including endemic and endangered flora and fauna. We also depend on the Amazon rainforest to help stabilise our climate.

It is facing mass deforestation due to increasing forest fires, as well as land clearing for logging, mining and industrial agriculture. Continued deforestation of the Amazon threatens us all, and while it should be protected, it continues to be exploited.

What role has the Brazilian government played?

Many environmentalists and conservationists have accused the government, and specifically president Jair Bolsonaro, of failing to crack down on the practice of illegal land grabbing, even though it is supposed to protect the Amazon. In fact, some believe the government is actually encouraging mass deforestation

Ivaneide Bandeira, head of environmental NGO Kanindé, says: “The land invaders feel very empowered to the point that they are not ashamed of going on Facebook to make illegal land deals”.

What has the reaction been from Facebook?

The reaction from Facebook has been lacklustre, and they have refused to simply take down the adverts or block or remove users who are posting these adverts, despite them clearly being for illegally acquired land.

Facebook said it was “ready to work with local authorities”, but wouldn’t take down the adverts of its own accord. They added, “Our commerce policies require buyers and sellers to comply with laws and regulations”.

It looks like, although Facebook has the power to ban such illegal activity, it has not done so. Many believe that they are shirking their social and environmental responsibilities, especially when they would remove or disapprove adverts for other illegal transactions such as narcotics.

This is not the first time that big tech companies like Facebook have shown their lack of commitment to the environment. If stories like these make you want to avoid companies like Facebook, you should take a look at SearchScene. We are a search engine that donates 95% of profits to charity, and we also have a dedicated news hub where you can access any updates that you might usually find on social media.

Has any further action been taken?

An updated article by the BBC revealed that Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court has ordered an inquiry into the sale of protected areas of the Amazon rainforest via Facebook.

Senator Jacqyes Wagner, the head of the Brazilian Sentate’s Environment Commission, has revealed that his panel will demand that Facebook “review its policy so that this practice is curbed”. 

You can watch ‘Our World: Selling the Amazon’, a video about this scandal, on BBC iPlayer.