Brazil’s Amazon deforestation hits lowest level on record

Brazil's government has announced record low deforestation rates in the Amazon and savanna regions as the country prepares for a presidential election run-off. The left-wing incumbent, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, pledged to end deforestation in the Amazon by 2030 when he took office three years ago. Prior to him, his conservative predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, had increased deforestation rates.

The next presidential race will see Lula face Bolsonaro's son, Flavio, who is expected to carry on his father's policies if victorious, though he has declared intent to combat organized crime in the Amazon. Satellite data reveals that in the year leading up to July 2026, deforestation in the Amazon plummeted by 41.8%, the steepest decline since monitoring began in 1988.

Similarly, the Cerrado region, Brazil's savanna, saw a 23.8% reduction in deforestation. Spanning across the globe, the Amazon rainforest is vital in the battle against climate change, with 60% of it nestled within Brazil's borders. The Amazon, the world's largest rainforest, plays a crucial role in climate regulation and is home to an abundance of species.

However, it has been under threat due to deforestation for agriculture, logging, and the impacts of climate change, including heightened wildfire risks. Lula has reversed Bolsonaro's conservation policies, increasing environmental monitoring and enforcement of penalties for unlawful logging. In a post on X, Lula affirmed, "Our objective is to attain zero illegal deforestation by 2030."

Experts applaud Lula's environmental efforts, calling them "absolutely stratospheric" and "historic achievements" for Brazil, highlighting that with political will, meaningful progress in reversing deforestation and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions is possible.