Brazil's Amazon deforestation reached its lowest level in nearly 40 years, with 3,335 square kilometers cleared in the year ending July 2026, marking a 42% decline from the previous year. This reduction, described by some as an "historic achievement," comes just over a week before Brazil's presidential election runoff on October 25, 2026.

This environmental success represents a reversal of a trend observed under the previous administration and offers a political boost to incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The outcome of the upcoming election, pitting Lula against Flávio Bolsonaro, could determine if this downward trend is maintained or reversed.

What the Records Show

Beyond the Amazon, deforestation in Brazil's Cerrado savanna also fell by approximately 24% during the same period, reaching 5,517 square kilometers, the lowest level recorded there since 2001.

Timeline of Decline

Impact and Policy Shifts