RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Monday cast doubt on figures warning about the erosion of the Amazon rain forest.

"The Amazon rain forest has immeasurable potential," said the president, adding environmental activists are resorting to "fake numbers" to make their case.

"We must show the world that the government has changed and we have a responsibility to preserve the Amazon ... as we manage exploring it in a sustainable manner," said Bolsonaro.

The president was recently involved in the dismissal of the director of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Ricardo Galvao, after the agency released figures showing a significant increase in deforestation in the Amazon region.

Bolsonaro accused Galvao of colluding with NGOs to tarnish his administration's image. Galvao denied the allegation and reaffirmed the veracity of the data, saying the INPE's work was serious and internationally recognized. Enditem

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