Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon at its lowest level in nine years

Brasilia: Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has fallen to its lowest level in nine years, according to government reports.

The deforested area in the region amounted to 6,288 square kilometres between August 2023 and July 2024, the Ministry of Environment reported, citing data from the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe). This represents a decline of 30.6% compared to the previous year, when 9,064 square kilometres were deforested.

In the Cerrado, the wet savannas in the south-east of Brazil, deforestation also decreased by 25.7% compared to the previous year (2023), down to 8,174 square kilometres. This marks the first decline in this biome in four years.

The development is attributed to more intensive control measures in the two biomes, under the government of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

At the start of his term in early 2023, Lula announced plans to strengthen environmental and climate protection efforts. The aim is for deforestation to reach zero by 2030.

The Amazon rainforest is considered a CO2 reservoir and plays an important role in the international fight against climate change. During the term of right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro (2019 - 2022), deforestation and slash-and-burn practices increased significantly.

The ex-military leader viewed the region primarily as untapped economic potential, giving farmers and gold prospectors largely free rein to acquire land.

His administration cut funds and removed powers from regulatory authorities.