The organization Mapbiomas has analyzed fires in the Brazilian rainforest using satellite images and found that 3.1 million hectares of forest burned last year - the smallest area since measurements began in 1985.
The reduction not only applies to fires in the Amazon, but the total land area affected by fires in Brazil is the smallest since 2018.
Mapbiomas report coordinator Ane Alencar told reporters that the decrease is “unusual,” but that a possible contributing factor is that a delayed rainy season between 2024 and 2025 has prevented the “ideal time window for agricultural fires in some areas.” Fire is often used to clear land for agriculture in parts of Brazil.
