Amazon Deforestation Falls to Record Low

New data from Brazil shows a significant reduction in forest clearing across Earth's largest rainforest, though future challenges remain.

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon reached its lowest recorded level in the 12 months ending July 31, 2026. Data released by Brazil’s national space research institute, INPE, shows forest clearing amounted to 3,335 square kilometers. This figure is 42% below the previous year's total and represents an area smaller than the Spanish island of Mallorca, according to Mongabay.

The adjacent Cerrado, a wooded savanna, also saw a record low in deforestation, falling 24% to 5,516 square kilometers. The Cerrado has historically been Brazil's fastest-deforested biome, largely due to conversion for ranchland and industrial agriculture.

This reduction in forest loss has accelerated since President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office in 2023. His administration restored environmental law enforcement, expanded conservation programs, and resumed efforts to establish protected areas and recognize Indigenous territories.

However, the near-term outlook for the Amazon faces challenges. President Lula's upcoming re-election bid is contested, and seven of the nine Amazon state governors are allied with Flávio Bolsonaro, a frontrunner who has campaigned on reducing Amazon protections. Beyond politics, a super El Niño event brewing in the Pacific is a concern. Such events are associated with drought in the southern Amazon and typically lead to an increase in fires the year following a strong event.

About 15% of the Amazon biome is now deforested, according to research by Amazon Conservation, a nonprofit. Scientists estimate that if deforestation reaches 20-25%, the evapotranspiration system that drives rainfall across the region could fail. This could lead to drier conditions, increased vulnerability to fire, and a die-off of tropical species. Models suggest such a disruption could also reduce rainfall in southern South America, which is the continent’s agricultural heartland. Brazil contains just over 60% of the Amazon rainforest.

A reduction in deforestation protects the natural environments that underpin many jungle stay experiences, though future challenges indicate vigilance is warranted.