Environment · 2026-10-17 · Morning briefing

Brazil reports record Amazon deforestation drop ahead of tight election

Brazil has announced a record fall in deforestation in its Amazon region. According to satellite data for the year to July 2026, the rate of destruction fell by 41.8%—the largest single-year drop since records began in 1988. In the country's vast Cerrado savanna, the rate fell by 23.8%.

The figures represent a sharp reversal of recent trends. Under the previous president, Jair Bolsonaro, the Amazon lost nearly 60% more forest land between 2019 and 2022 than in the preceding four years. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who assumed office three years ago, has pledged to eliminate illegal deforestation by 2030.

The data was released weeks before a presidential run-off on October 25th. Lula will face Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of his predecessor, in a race that current polls suggest is neck-and-neck.

Summary written by Cup of News with AI from the sources below. Check the originals for the full story.

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• Brazil's Amazon deforestation hits record low: Why it matters amid election battle
• Brazil: Amazon Deforestation Lowest in Nearly 40 Years
• Brazil says Amazon deforestation fell to the lowest level since 1988
• Brazil sees record low Amazon deforestation rate in win for Lula
• Tight Brazil election challenges fragile gains for Amazon conservation

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