Despite the drought, deforestation warnings in the Amazon reached their lowest level in five years

Month-on-month, deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell for the 13th month in a row, as deforestation in the world’s largest rainforest fell to its lowest level in five years. This decline came despite a historic drought in the region, according to data released Friday by Brazil’s National Space Research Institute INPE.

In April, the forest loss area recorded by INPE’s deforestation alert system was 174 square kilometers, a decrease of 47% compared to last April. A total of 4,661 square kilometers of forest was cut down in the last 12 months, a decrease of 51% compared to the previous year.

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, which accounts for nearly two-thirds of the Amazon rainforest, has declined rapidly since President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office in January 2023. President Lula has made it a priority to curb deforestation in the region by reintroducing conservation programs, rebuilding and strengthening environmental agencies, gaining international support for forest protection, and supporting the rights of indigenous peoples. The Lula government also reintroduced programs that provide economic incentives for forest cover conservation and called for the creation of a new type of alliance of tropical rainforest nations to seek international funding for protection and restoration.

Deforestation is increasing even as large parts of the northern Amazon region are affected by a severe drought. Roraima state has seen record fires in recent months.

Cover photo: Rainbow over the Amazon rainforest. Photo by Rhett Ayers Butler