As the sun rose over the Amazon, so did we – to see for ourselves what’s at stake here, in the battle to save the most biodiverse sanctuary on the planet.

Our pilot, Raphael Montenegro, pilots police helicopters.

Every day he witnesses the increasing number of blemishes on nature’s masterpiece.

While flying over the breathtaking canopy of the Amazon rainforest, Raphael points out squares of land razed to the ground – the work of farmers and loggers. All of it is completely illegal, but little is done to stop it.

:: Subscribe to ClimateCast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Spreaker.

It is environmental vandalism where the vandals have the blessing of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a president who cares little for his country’s land.

Although Brazil has vowed to work towards carbon neutrality by 2050, Mr Bolsonaro’s track record includes rallying against environmental enforcement, at a time where environmental agencies’ budgets are already at a crippling low.

Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil senators recommend president faces charges over COVID policies

Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro should face homicide charges over 95,000 COVID-19 deaths, draft report finds

Football legend Pele ‘recovering well’ after being readmitted to hospital

Scientists here in Manaus fear that if things continue as they are, within a few generations the Amazon may not exist at all.

The rainforest below us is one enormous carbon store, holding the equivalent of almost 12 years of global emissions at current rates.

But as more trees are felled – and tens of billions already have been – it means less rainfall, higher temperatures, more drought.

The Amazon rainforest we picture in our mind’s eye as a wet and wonderous place packed with thousands of species of wildlife and fauna – could all be replaced by a vast dry savannah land.

And as we headed back, we saw another snapshot of a rainforest crying for help.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Tributaries into the Black River – which flows directly into the Amazon – covered in an oily film, its pollution laid bare to see.

Raphael says witnessing this is heart-breaking – but the Amazon rainforest is too vital not to fight for.

For full coverage of COP26 watch Climate Live on Sky channel 525 from 10am on Monday

Follow live coverage on web and app with our dedicated live blog

Get all the latest stories, special reports and in depth analysis at skynews.com/cop26

Related posts:

Sailors on board missing submarine only have two more days of oxygen left Joe Biden says two-state solution only route to peace as Israel-Hamas ceasefire holds Last month was second hottest July ever in Europe Russian gay family in controversial supermarket advert flees to Spain after threats Firefighter killed and thousands evacuated as wildfires rage in Greece ‘So grateful’: Lionel Messi in tears as he bids farewell to Barcelona Brazil v Argentina match suspended after health officials walk on to pitch in COVID row Taliban fire into air at anti-Pakistan protest as UN warns basic services on verge of collapse Paris attacks survivors hope for justice as France’s biggest criminal trial in history begins Fire at overcrowded Indonesian prison leaves at least 41 dead Suspects arrive in courtroom ahead of trial over 2015 Paris attacks amid heavy police presence ‘We will be killed’: At least 400 UK-trained Afghan special forces troops hiding from Taliban