Brazil has achieved a significant milestone in environmental conservation, recording the lowest level of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in nearly 40 years. Data from the Brazilian space research agency Inpe, released on Friday, shows that 3,335 square kilometers of forest were cleared between August 2025 and July 2026. This marks a nearly 42% decrease from the previous year's figure of 5,731 square kilometers, the lowest since records began in 1988.
The Amazon, the world's largest tropical rainforest and a critical biodiverse ecosystem, has faced severe threats from deforestation and illegal resource exploitation. The recent drop in deforestation has been hailed as a historic achievement by environmental advocates. Environment Minister Joao Paulo Capobianco described the decline as 'stratospheric,' while President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reiterated the government's goal to achieve zero illegal deforestation by 2030.
Marcio Astrini, executive secretary at climate advocacy group Observatorio do Clima, praised the figures as a result of sustained government commitment to environmental protection. The government has introduced greater monitoring and stiffer penalties for illegal logging, contributing to the positive trend. The news comes ahead of the October 25 runoff election between Lula and conservative senator Flavio Bolsonaro, with polls showing the two candidates running neck and neck.