Brazil reports record drop in Amazon deforestation before runoff

Brazil’s Amazon deforestation rate fell 41.8% in the year to July 2026, the largest annual decline since records began in 1988, the Brazilian government said. The figures were released ahead of a presidential run-off on 25 October between Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro, in which the future of the rainforest is a campaign issue.

How much did deforestation fall?

Satellite data showed the deforestation rate in the Amazon fell by 41.8% in the 12 months to July 2026. In the Cerrado, Brazil’s savanna region, the decline was 23.8%. The Amazon figure is the biggest drop recorded since monitoring began in 1988.

What is at stake in the presidential run-off?

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva faces Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, in the second round on 25 October, with polls indicating a neck-and-neck race. Flavio Bolsonaro is expected to continue his father’s policies if he wins, though he has pledged to fight organised crime in the Amazon. The contest was set after the first round closed with Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro advancing to the presidency runoff.

How does the current rate compare with the Bolsonaro years?

Jair Bolsonaro, president from 2019 to 2022, promoted mining on indigenous lands in the Amazon while resources to protect the forest were cut, and forest clearances soared. During his presidency the Amazon lost nearly 60% more forest land than in the previous four years, news agency AFP reported, citing official data. Reports have documented illegal mining and abuses on indigenous lands in Brazil.

What has Lula promised?

Lula, who took office three years ago, pledged to end deforestation in the Amazon by 2030. “Our goal is to achieve zero illegal deforestation by 2030,” he said in a post on X on Friday. His government tightened environmental monitoring and penalties for illegal logging, and deforestation fell to a six-year low during his first year in office.

What did officials and campaigners say?

Environment Minister Joao Paulo Capobianco described the decline in Amazon deforestation as “absolutely stratospheric”. Marcio Astrini, executive secretary of the climate advocacy group Observatorio do Clima, called it an “historic achievement” for Brazil and said it showed that “with political will, it is possible to curb deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions”.

Why does the Amazon matter beyond Brazil?

The Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest and a crucial buffer in the global fight against climate change, and 60% of it is located in Brazil. Tropical rainforests are home to millions of species and, in a healthy state, absorb vast quantities of planet-warming carbon dioxide. They face pressure from decades of deliberate land clearance for agriculture and logging, as well as from climate change, which scientists warn can create conditions for wildfires.

Frequently asked questions

How much did Amazon deforestation fall in Brazil?

Brazil’s government said the Amazon deforestation rate fell 41.8% in the year to July 2026, the biggest drop since records began in 1988. Deforestation in the Cerrado savanna fell 23.8% over the same period.

When is Brazil’s presidential run-off?

The second round is scheduled for 25 October, between Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro. Polls cited in the reporting suggest a neck-and-neck race.

Who is Flavio Bolsonaro?

Flavio Bolsonaro is the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro and is Lula’s opponent in the 25 October run-off. He is expected to continue his father’s policies if elected, though he has pledged to fight organised crime in the Amazon.

What is Brazil’s deforestation target?

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has pledged to reach zero illegal deforestation by 2030, writing on X that this is “our goal”.

With reporting from BBC News.

Stock image, not from the events described. City Skyline — Joe deSousa / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)