Brazil’s Amazon Posts Lowest Deforestation in Nine Years

AFP/APP

Brasília: The Brazilian Amazon recorded its lowest yearly deforestation rate in nearly a decade, reflecting a 30.6 percent decrease in forest loss, as reported by Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE).

Over the past year, 6,288 square kilometers (2,427 square miles) of rainforest were lost, the smallest area in nine years, marking a significant achievement for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government, which has prioritized combating illegal deforestation.

The Amazon, covering almost 40 percent of South America, has lost approximately 20 percent of its area over the last century due to agriculture, cattle ranching, logging, mining, and urban development.

Continued forest loss, scientists warn, threatens to turn the Amazon into a net emitter of carbon rather than a carbon sink, exacerbating global climate change.

Beyond the Amazon, Brazil also reported a 25.7 percent decrease in deforestation in the Cerrado, the world’s most biodiverse savanna. Despite this progress, both regions remain vulnerable to severe droughts and wildfires, recently experiencing widespread fires.

Environmental Initiatives

Environment Minister Marina Silva celebrated the data as a step toward Brazil’s goal of eliminating illegal deforestation by 2030. Mariana Napolitano of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) also welcomed the news but underscored the urgent need for reforestation, especially as the Amazon nears its ecological tipping point.

This achievement was announced just days ahead of Brazil’s participation in the COP29 UN climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, where Brazil aims to showcase its efforts to curb deforestation and reduce carbon emissions.