Forest clearing in Brazil’s Amazon reached its lowest level since records began in 1988. Official satellite data showed that 3,335 square kilometers were cleared between August 2025 and July 2026, down 41.8% from the previous year. The earlier annual total was 5,731 square kilometers.
The decline followed renewed efforts under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to enforce environmental laws. His government restored penalties for illegal clearing detected by satellites and expanded forest protection programs. It also supported communities that reduced forest loss and businesses that use the forest sustainably. The government says Amazon forest clearing has fallen 71% since 2023.
However, the rainforest still faces serious risks. El Niño, a warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean, can bring hotter, drier weather and increase the danger of wildfires. Brazil’s presidential runoff on October 25 also creates uncertainty. Lula faces Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Conservation experts warn that a Bolsonaro victory could reverse policies that have helped reduce forest clearing.
