Brazil’s Amazon deforestation falls to lowest level since records began
publishers 24articles 24first reported 16 Oct, 18:45 UTCdeveloping since 16 Oct · 10 editions
Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon fell to its lowest level since official records began in 1988, according to data released Friday by the country’s space research agency, Inpe.
Satellite monitoring recorded 3,335 square kilometres (1,288 square miles) of forest cleared between August 2025 and July 2026, a decline of nearly 42% from 5,731 square kilometres in the previous annual period. The prior record low was 4,571 square kilometres in 2011-12. Annual losses had approached 30,000 square kilometres in the mid-1990s.
Deforestation in the Cerrado, Brazil’s savanna region, also declined by about 24% to 5,517 square kilometres, its lowest level since records for that region began in 2001.
Environment Minister Joao Paulo Capobianco called the Amazon decline an “absolutely stratospheric drop.” President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reiterated that his government aims to eliminate illegal deforestation by 2030. His administration has strengthened environmental monitoring and penalties for illegal logging after he took office in 2023.
The figures were released ahead of Brazil’s October 25 presidential runoff between Lula and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro has pledged to strengthen environmental oversight, target organized environmental crime and end illegal deforestation by 2029. Polls cited by several outlets show the candidates in a close race.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 6 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 20 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 24
- Source articles
- 24
- Given to the writer
- 8, 6 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 20 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
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