Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon drops 37% in the past year

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has fallen by 36.87% in the period from August 2025 to July 2026, compared to the previous twelve months. This reduction covers an area of 2,874 square kilometers and marks the lowest level recorded since the current satellite measurement system was implemented in 2016.

The figures, released preliminarily by the government, also show a 55.6% decrease from the average deforestation rate over the past ten cycles (2015/2016 to 2024/2025). Data from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) satellite monitoring system highlights significant improvements across key regions. The state of Pará, which hosted the COP30 climate summit in Belém, recorded 987 square kilometers of deforestation alerts, a 25.5% drop from the prior cycle. Mato Grosso, a major agricultural frontier, saw 834 square kilometers affected, reflecting a substantial year-on-year reduction of 49%.

The administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has set an ambitious goal of achieving zero illegal deforestation by 2030. To this end, the government has bolstered resources for environmental monitoring and enforcement, a stark contrast to the policies enacted during the Jair Bolsonaro administration, which were criticized for contributing to an acceleration of forest clearing. Data from the Climate Observatory indicates that during Lula's third term, the Amazon region recorded 19,642 square kilometers of deforestation alerts, a 41% decrease compared to the 2019-2022 period.

During Bolsonaro's presidency, deforestation rates exceeded 10,000 square kilometers annually in the Amazon, with figures reaching 13,000 square kilometers between 2020 and 2021, the highest since 2006. The preliminary data released today was collected by the Deter satellite system. More precise and detailed final data will be available in November from the Prodes satellite.