Brazil’s Amazon deforestation hits lowest level on record

Data show a 42 percent drop in forest clearance from a year earlier, giving Lula a boost before the election run-off.Published On 17 Oct 202617 Oct 2026Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest has fallen to its lowest level since records began in 1988, according to official figures that give a boost to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva days before a presidential run-off.Brazil’s space research agency, Inpe, said on Friday that 3,335 square kilometres (1,288 square miles) of forest were cleared in the 12 months through July, about 42 percent less than the year before.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Lula says Brazil cannot ‘accept treatment’ after new US tariffs proposedlist 2 of 3Flavio Bolsonaro asks Trump to delay tariffs on Brazil until after electionlist 3 of 3US tariffs ‘strengthen’ Lula against Bolsonaro’s son in upcoming electionsend of listThe previous record low was 4,571 sq km (1,765 sq miles) in 2011-12, while annual losses peaked at nearly 30,000 sq km (nearly 11,600 sq miles) in the mid-1990s, according to Inpe’s Prodes satellite programme, which measures from August to July because cloud cover is lower in mid-year.“It’s an absolutely stratospheric dr...