Brazil: Amazon deforestation lowest in nearly 40 years
The latest figures show that 3,335 square kilometres of the Amazone rainforest were cleared over a year ending in July, the lowest since 1988. The drop has been described as an "historic achievement."
Brazil has reported the lowest level of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in nearly four decades, according to data released by the Brazilian space research agency Inpe. In the period between August 2025 and July 2026, 3,335 square kilometers (1,288 square miles) of forest were cleared, marking a nearly 42% decrease from the previous year's figure of 5,731 square kilometers.
The Amazon, the world's largest tropical rainforest, is primarily located in Brazil and is a crucial biodiverse ecosystem. Environment Minister Joao Paulo Capobianco and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva praised the achievement, with the latter calling it a historic accomplishment and highlighting the potential of political will to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
The reduction is attributed to a sustained commitment to environmental protection by the government, including enhanced monitoring and stricter penalties for illegal logging.
Brief written by urgent.news from DW News's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
