Brazil leader says space institute is lying about deforestation

Brazil's President says the country's space institute is lying about how bad deforestation is in the Amazon.

Jair Bolsonaro said the experts are giving Brazil a bad name in the world by spreading inaccurate data about the issue.

He has asked for a meeting with the head of the space agency to discuss the matter.

Satellite images released by Brazil's National Space Research Institute shows that more than 1,000 sq km of the rainforest had been cleared in the first half of this month.

Deforestation is the act of clearing or removing part of a forest to make the land available for other uses.