Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon has seen a significant decline of 33.6% during the first six months of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s term compared to the same period in 2022, according to the Brazilian government. Satellite data released by the government suggests that the rainforest area shrank by 2,649 square kilometers between January and June, down from 3,988 square kilometers during the same period last year under former President Bolsonaro. However, the data has not been independently verified.
President Lula has pledged to halt deforestation, or forest clearance, by 2030. While this decrease in deforestation is positive, the reported area lost under President Lula’s rule is still more than three times the size of New York City, presenting a substantial challenge to achieving the target.
Deforestation in the Amazon has been a growing concern in recent years, as the rainforest plays a vital role in the global fight against climate change. The presented satellite data, shared by Brazil’s National Institute of Space Research (Inpe), indicates a consistent downward trend in deforestation, with June showing a record 41% drop in forest clearance compared to the same month last year.
President Lula, who took office in January, aims to reverse the policies of his predecessor Bolsonaro, who supported mining in indigenous lands within the Amazon. As part of this effort, Lula established six new indigenous reserves earlier this year, prohibiting mining activities and imposing restrictions on commercial farming.
President Lula has also been advocating for wealthier nations to financially support initiatives aimed at preserving the rainforest. Global Forest Watch research from April revealed that tropical forests the size of Switzerland were lost worldwide in 2022 due to increased tree clearance, with Brazil being a major contributor to the destruction. The research suggested that the political commitment to end deforestation made by world leaders at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in 2021 is off track.
The Amazon, which is the largest rainforest globally, with 60% of it located in Brazil, is often referred to as “the lungs of the planet” due to its significant role in absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen.
