Amazon deforestation falls 42% to a record low

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has reached an all-time low, with a 42% decrease compared to the previous year. According to data from Brazil’s national space research institute, INPE, forest clearing in the Amazon amounted to 3,335 square kilometers over the 12 months ending July 31, 2026. This represents an area smaller than the Spanish island of Mallorca.

The Cerrado, a wooded savanna adjacent to the Amazon rainforest, also saw a 24% reduction in deforestation, with 5,516 square kilometers lost. This figure marks the lowest on record for the biome, which has been the fastest-deforested region in Brazil in recent decades due to conversion to ranchland and industrial agriculture.

The decline in deforestation has accelerated under the leadership of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who assumed office in 2023. Lula's administration has prioritized the restoration of environmental laws, expanded conservation programs, and worked to establish protected areas and recognize Indigenous territories. However, his re-election bid later this month is facing significant challenges, raising concerns that the recent progress in reducing Amazon forest loss may not continue.

Seven out of the nine governors of Amazon states are allied with Flávio Bolsonaro, the frontrunner in the election, who has advocated for reducing protections for the Amazon.

The outlook for the Amazon remains uncertain due to the brewing super El Niño in the Pacific. El Niño events are associated with drought in the southern Amazon, and such conditions often lead to an increase in fires. The near-term outlook for the Amazon is now estimated to account for about 15% of the total deforestation.