Amazon deforestation in Brazil hits ten-year low

Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest has fallen to its lowest point since satellite monitoring began in 2016, with authorities reporting a significant 37% reduction in forest clearing over the past year. Between August 2025 and July 2026, an area of 2,874 square kilometers was deforested, a stark contrast to previous periods.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has pledged to halt illegal deforestation by 2030, expressed optimism that the current trend could lead to achieving this ambitious goal. "The numbers indicate that we can achieve this if the current pace continues, with the effort we have shown and by making the necessary resources available," Lula stated Friday.

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The numbers indicate that we can achieve this if the current pace continues, with the effort we have shown and by making the necessary resources available.

The decrease marks a reversal from the period under his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, when deforestation rates surged, reaching a peak in 2022. Lula emphasized his administration's commitment to environmental protection, stating, "In this country, we take the climate issue very seriously, because we are not deniers. We see that things are happening."

As Brazil approaches a presidential election in October, Lula faces a challenge from Flavio Bolsonaro, Jair Bolsonaro's son. While Lula has held a lead in opinion polls, recent surveys suggest this advantage is narrowing, adding a political dimension to the environmental progress.

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In this country, we take the climate issue very seriously, because we are not deniers. We see that things are happening.