Amazon gets a breather: Clearing drops to decade low
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has fallen to its lowest level in a decade, according to new data from Brazil’s National Space Agency.
The agency reported that 500 square miles of rainforest was cleared in the first half of 2026. That compares to 807 square miles over the same period in 2025 — a 38% decrease year-on-year.
The decline comes after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known as ‘Lula’, made tackling deforestation a central campaign pledge. Deforestation had surged during the previous administration of Jair Bolsonaro.
“This shows that the political will to fight deforestation has prevailed,” said Ane Alencar, science director at the Amazon Environmental Research Institute. “This is evidence that deforestation is not an inevitable process and its reduction is responsive to decisions made by society and the government.”
Lula is set to stand for re-election in October when Brazil returns to the polls.
Environmental groups say the drop signals that stronger enforcement, monitoring, and policy changes can have a direct impact on protecting the Amazon, though they caution that long-term funding and governance will be key to sustaining the trend.
