Brazilian Amazon deforestation drops to record low ahead of presidential run-off
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has dropped to its lowest level since 1988, satellite data shows, ahead of a key presidential election run-off.
Official government satellite data shows deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has fallen to its lowest level since records began in 1988. Between August 2025 and July 2026, 3,335 square kilometres of rainforest were cleared, representing a 42 percent decrease compared to the previous year.
The Brazilian government framed the sharp decline as a major milestone for environmental policy under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who pledged to eliminate illegal deforestation by 2030.
The historical drop comes shortly before a presidential election run-off on 25 October, where the future management of the rainforest and international climate commitments serve as key campaign issues.
Sources: BBC News, Libération, ORF, Tagesschau, The Guardian.
Sources
- ORF — Amazonas-Gebiet: Abholzung auf niedrigstem Stand seit 1988
- Tagesschau — Amazonas in Brasilien: Abholzung auf tiefstem Stand seit 1988
- The Guardian — Brazilian Amazon deforestation falls to lowest on record as pivotal vote looms
- Libération — Au Brésil, la déforestation en Amazonie au plus bas depuis près de 40 ans : «une chute absolument stratosphérique»
- BBC News — Brazil sees record fall in Amazon deforestation as key election looms