AGUA CLARA, Brazil (AP) — Officials announced on Wednesday that deforestation in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil has decreased by 30.6% compared to last year, marking the lowest level of forest loss in nine years. In the past year, the Amazon lost approximately 6,288 square kilometers (2,428 square miles), an area comparable to the size of the U.S. state of Delaware.
The announcement was made at Brazil’s presidential palace, highlighting a significant shift in environmental policy under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in stark contrast to his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro, a far-right leader, prioritized agribusiness expansion, which weakened environmental protection efforts, resulting in a 15-year high in deforestation during his time in office.
Additionally, deforestation in Brazil’s vast Cerrado savannah, known for its incredible biodiversity, decreased by 25.7%. This is the first decline in five years, with 8,174 square kilometers (3,156 square miles) cleared. While the Cerrado is less protected legally than the Amazon, it is a critical ecosystem situated in central Brazil.
Brazil’s Environment Minister Marina Silva (right) engages in a discussion with Vice President Geraldo Alckmin during the unveiling of a plan aimed at addressing fires and deforestation in the Amazon and the Brazilian Cerrado, at the Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, on Wednesday, November 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Even with the notable decline in deforestation rates in the Amazon, Lula’s government faces criticism from environmental groups for endorsing projects that might negatively impact the region. These projects include expanding highways through pristine forests, drilling for oil near the mouth of the Amazon River, and constructing a railway intended to transport soybeans to ports in the Amazon.
The monitoring system for Brazil’s deforestation assesses data from August 1 to July 30, meaning the latest report does not include the recent destruction caused by fires during a historic drought, which has affected areas larger than Switzerland. Much of the fire-related damage is recorded as degradation rather than outright deforestation, as it tends to burn through leaf litter rather than treetops. Future assessments via satellite monitoring will clarify the full extent of this impact. Authorities are concerned that next year’s deforestation rate may rise in anticipation of the annual U.N. climate talks, known as COP30, which will occur in the Amazonian city of Belem.
Covering an area twice the size of India, the Amazon rainforest, with about two-thirds located in Brazil, is critical for trapping vast quantities of carbon dioxide—a significant greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. The Amazon plays a vital role in moderating global temperatures and houses around 20% of the world’s fresh water, along with an astonishing variety of biodiversity that includes 16,000 identified tree species.
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