Brazil deforestation falls to record low before election
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Brazil’s government reported record decreases in deforestation within the Amazon rainforest and the Cerrado savanna as the country prepares for a presidential election.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office three years ago with a commitment to eliminate deforestation in the Amazon by 2030, reversing the policies of his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, who had encouraged mining and logging.
Deforestation rates fell by 41.8% in the Amazon and 23.8% in the Cerrado between July 2025 and July 2026, marking the largest decrease since monitoring began in 1988. During Bolsonaro’s presidency, from 2019 to 2022, the Amazon lost almost 60% more forest land than in the prior four years. Lula is currently running against Flavio Bolsonaro, Jair Bolsonaro’s son, in a close election.
Lula has strengthened environmental monitoring and penalties for illegal logging, while Flavio is expected to follow policies similar to his father’s. The Amazon rainforest, 60% of which lies within Brazil, is vital for absorbing carbon dioxide and mitigating climate change.
