Areas of land as big as the UK burned in Brazil this year, analysis reveals.

Nearly 90,000 square miles were destroyed, even more than last year.

Greenpeace says the world’s largest wetland region also suffered unprecedented fires.

Data from Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research shows that despite Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro claiming he would ban burning in July, logging has continued.

The logging causes fires to spread more quickly.

The charity has launched a video campaign to highlight the “devastating” impact of industrial meat production on the Amazon.

Fire brigade member attempts to control a fire in a tract of the Amazon jungle in Apui (
Image:
Reuters)

It says meat is the single biggest driver of deforestation worldwide, with the push for space to produce beef and animal feed crops like soya a key reason for South American forest clearance.

There’s a Monster in my Kitchen tells the story of a young boy who learns of the heartbreaking reality of rampant deforestation.

It is backed by Sir Paul McCartney, who said: “The world’s forests are truly irreplaceable. These forests are being cleared at a shocking rate to farm more industrial meat and dairy. This is why reducing our meat is so important.

A dead crocodile in the town of Porto Jofre (
Image:
EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

“But that alone isn’t enough... we need supermarkets and fast food restaurants to... make the switch to less destructive, plant-based alternatives.”

The wetland fires have endangered 600 of the Pantanal wetland region’s 2,000 jaguars.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro (
Image:
Reuters)

The forest destruction is also catastrophic for indigenous peoples.

Greenpeace is urging supermarkets and fast food chains to “commit to replacing half their meat with healthy plant-based options by 2025”.