Deforestation peaked in 2022 under former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro. Since left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office, the trend has begun to reverse and deforestation continues to decline.
Between August 2025 and July 2026, 2,874 square kilometres of rainforest disappeared, a decrease of almost 37 percent from the previous year, according to Brazil's Space Research Institute. Lula has promised to stop illegal deforestation by 2030.
"The figures show that we can reach that goal if we maintain the current pace," Lula said when the new figures were presented in São Paulo.
Environmental organisations are also criticising Lula for supporting oil exploration off the coast of the Amazon.
Lula is running for re-election in October against the former president's son, Flávio Bolsonaro.
