Brazil's Amazon Deforestation Falls to Its Lowest Level Since 1988: What It Means for the World's Largest Rainforest
Brazil's official satellite data showed that 3,335 sq km of Amazon forest was cleared in the 12 months from August 2025 to July 2026. This is the lowest figure since the monitoring series began in 1988.
The figure comes from PRODES, the yearly forest-loss count run by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE). The previous year's figure was 5,796 sq km, so the fall is roughly 42%.
The government says forest clearing has fallen about 71% since 2023. In 2019–2022, more than 45,000 sq km was cleared and the yearly rate had risen by about 60%.
The government credits a revived Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation in the Legal Amazon (PPCDAm), first launched in 2004. Its tools include satellite-based penalties for illegal clearing, more money for municipalities that cut forest loss, action against environmental crime and cheap loans for sustainable Amazon businesses.
Risks remain. Forest degradation (damage from fire, logging and drought without full clearing) affects about 40% of the Amazon and has recently grown faster than clear-cutting. A strong El Niño could raise fire risk in 2026 and 2027.
Brazil's stated goal is zero deforestation by 2030. Forest loss and land-use change are Brazil's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.
Amazon Rainforest: Geography, Ecology and Deforestation
The Amazon rainforest is the largest tropical rainforest on Earth. It covers about 5.5 million sq km in the northern part of South America, inside a river basin of about 7 million sq km. It is spread across nine countries, and Brazil holds the biggest share, close to 60%. It is home to a huge variety of plants and animals, and it plays a big role in the world's climate and water cycle.
PRODES, the official yearly count of Amazon forest loss, has now recorded its lowest figure since 1988: 3,335 sq km for August 2025 to July 2026. This shows how monitoring, enforcement and money for forest protection can bring the rate down. But rising degradation, drought risk and the tipping point warning mean the Amazon is still under pressure.
Tropical Forests as a Global Carbon Sink
A carbon sink is anything that takes in more carbon dioxide from the air than it gives out. Tropical forests near the Equator, like the Amazon, the Congo Basin and the forests of South-East Asia, are among the world's biggest natural carbon sinks. Their trees pull carbon dioxide out of the air and store the carbon in wood, roots and soil. When these forests are cut or burned, the stored carbon goes back into the air and adds to global warming.
The record fall in Amazon clearing means less stored carbon is being released into the air. It strengthens the Amazon's role as a carbon sink and helps Brazil meet its climate target of zero deforestation by 2030.
- Amazon deforestation, August 2025 to July 2026 (PRODES): 3,335 sq km, lowest since records began in 1988
- Previous year (August 2024 to July 2025): 5,796 sq km; fall of roughly 42%
- Fall since 2023: about 71% (government figure)
- 2019–2022: more than 45,000 sq km cleared; rate rose about 60%
- DETER alerts for the same period: about 2,874 sq km, down about 36%
- PPCDAm: first launched 2004, revived from 2023; four pillars: monitoring and enforcement, sustainable economy, protected areas and public forest management, rules and financial incentives
- Degradation affects about 40% of the Amazon
- Brazil's goal: zero deforestation by 2030
- PRODES and DETER are run by INPE, Brazil's National Institute for Space Research