Brazil’s Amazon deforestation falls 41.8%, biggest drop since 1988

Brazil’s government says deforestation in the Amazon fell 41.8% in the year to July 2026, the largest annual drop since satellite records began in 1988. The figures were released ahead of a presidential run-off on 25 October between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro.

How far did Amazon deforestation fall?

Satellite data for the 12 months to July 2026 showed a 41.8% decline in Amazon deforestation, the biggest drop since records began in 1988, according to the Brazilian government. The Cerrado, Brazil’s savanna region, recorded a 23.8% fall over the same period. The government says rates in both regions have reached record lows.

What does the election have to do with the Amazon?

Lula will face Flávio Bolsonaro, son of his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, in the run-off on 25 October, with the two candidates polling near 40% each in a race described as neck and neck. Flavio Bolsonaro is expected to continue his father’s policies if he wins, though he has pledged to fight organised crime in the Amazon.

What has Lula promised on deforestation?

Lula took office three years ago with a pledge to end deforestation in the Amazon by 2030, after rates surged under Jair Bolsonaro. “Our goal is to achieve zero illegal deforestation by 2030,” Lula said in a post on X. His government tightened environmental monitoring and penalties for illegal logging, and deforestation fell to a six-year low in his first year in office.

How did deforestation change under Jair Bolsonaro?

Jair Bolsonaro promoted mining on indigenous lands in the Amazon and cut resources for protecting the forest, and forest clearances rose during his presidency from 2019 to 2022. Over those four years the Amazon lost nearly 60% more forest land than in the preceding four years, AFP reported, citing official data.

What did officials and campaigners say?

Brazil’s Environment Minister Joao Paulo Capobianco described the decline in Amazon deforestation as “absolutely stratospheric”. Marcio Astrini, executive secretary of the climate advocacy group Observatorio do Clima, called it an “historic achievement” for Brazil and said it showed that “with political will, it is possible to curb deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions”.

Why does the Amazon matter beyond Brazil?

The Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest and about 60% of it lies in Brazil. In a healthy state, tropical rainforests absorb large quantities of planet-warming carbon dioxide, helping to keep the Earth cool, but they face pressure from decades of deliberate clearance for agriculture and logging, and from climate change, which scientists warn can create conditions for wildfires.

Frequently asked questions

How much did Amazon deforestation fall in Brazil?

Brazil’s government says Amazon deforestation fell 41.8% in the year to July 2026, the biggest drop since records began in 1988. The Cerrado savanna recorded a 23.8% decline over the same period.

When is Brazil’s presidential run-off?

The run-off is set for 25 October, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva facing Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.

What has Lula promised on deforestation?

Lula has said his goal is zero illegal deforestation by 2030, after pledging when he took office to end deforestation in the Amazon by that year.

Why does the Amazon matter for climate change?

The Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest and about 60% of it is in Brazil. Healthy tropical rainforests absorb large quantities of carbon dioxide, but clearance for agriculture and logging has reduced that capacity.

With reporting from BBC News.

Stock image, not from the events described. Globe World — Jo%E3o%20Silas / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)