Brazil's government announced that annual Amazon deforestation fell to 3,335 square kilometres, the lowest level since records began in 1988. The data comes ahead of a presidential runoff between Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro.
Brazil’s government announced Friday that annual deforestation in the Amazon fell to its lowest level since records began in 1988. Official satellite data showed the rainforest lost 3,335 square kilometres (1,300 square miles) from Aug. 2025 through July 2026, the period used to calculate the annual rate.
The data underscores the success of Brazil’s renewed efforts under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to curb Amazon deforestation, reversing a surge under his predecessor, far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. During Jair Bolsonaro’s presidency, from 2019 to 2022, Amazon deforestation surged by about 60 per cent, with more than 45,000 square kilometres (17,400 square miles) cleared, according to official data. Under Lula, deforestation has fallen 71 per cent since 2023, the government said.
One of Lula’s first moves after taking office in January 2023 was to revive the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation in the Legal Amazon, known by its Portuguese acronym, PPCDAm. Launched in 2004 during his first administration, the plan had been shelved under Bolsonaro. Lula brought back environmental officials who developed the blueprint, appointing Marina Silva, who led the Environment Ministry until she resigned in April to run for Congress, and João Paulo Capobianco, her former deputy and the current minister.
The plan has four pillars: strengthening monitoring and enforcement; promoting a sustainable economy; managing protected areas; and using regulations and financial incentives. Measures included restoring sanctions for illegal forest clearing detected by satellites, a practice seen as the most effective tool to curb deforestation that was halted under Bolsonaro. The government also proposed barring properties with illegal deforestation from receiving bank loans and allocated more funding to priority Amazon municipalities that demonstrated reductions in forest loss.
Data from the Prodes satellite system, described by The Guardian as the most accurate indicator of deforestation, show that the new result is 1,236 square kilometres below the previous record low. The largest areas of deforestation in 2026 were recorded in the states of Pará, accounting for 33.9% of the total, Mato Grosso, with 25.5%, and Amazonas, with 15.7%. Figures in each of these states declined by more than 45% compared with the previous year. Roraima was the only state where the situation worsened, with deforestation rising by 0.4%.
In the Cerrado, a savanna biome neighbouring the Amazon, the annual deforested area totalled 5,516 square kilometres, the lowest level since 2001. Over the past four years, deforestation in the Cerrado has declined by 48.4%.
The statistics were released ahead of Brazil’s presidential election runoff, scheduled for October 25. Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, won 47 per cent of the vote in the first round, while Lula received 45 per cent. The candidates offer sharply different visions for the rainforest. Climate and conservation experts warn that a Bolsonaro victory could reverse policies to curb deforestation. Flávio Bolsonaro has pledged to end illegal deforestation by 2029, a year ahead of Brazil’s current target. Lula’s reelection pledge goes further: zero net deforestation by 2030, with restoration offsetting all forest loss.
Despite progress, the Amazon faces threats from climate change and proposed legislation. Degradation from wildfires, logging and drought affects about 40 per cent of the Amazon and has outpaced clear-cutting in recent years. Fire counts across the biome were near historic lows this year but have tripled since Oct. 4, when Brazilians voted in the first round of national elections. Authorities are investigating whether fires were deliberately set for political reasons ahead of the runoff.
Deforestation and other land-use changes are Brazil’s largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, which drive global warming. The stakes are especially high in the Amazon, which stores vast amounts of carbon dioxide and generates atmospheric moisture that helps regulate weather far beyond South America. Márcio Astrini, executive director of the Climate Observatory, said the figures show that Brazil’s pledge to reach zero deforestation by 2030 is achievable without compromising the country’s economy. “Agriculture has been setting production and export records while deforestation has fallen. Today’s figures disprove the false narrative that protecting the environment holds back Brazil’s development,” he said.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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