In a significant shift, deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon has dropped by 33.6% during the first six months of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s term. Official government satellite data revealed this positive change.

From January to June, alerts for potential deforestation in the Amazon covered 2,650 square kilometers, down from the previous year’s 4,000 square kilometers – an area roughly the size of Rhode Island. June, which usually sees a spike in deforestation during the dry season, witnessed a notable 41% decrease in alerts.

João Paulo Capobianco, the Executive Secretary of the Environment Ministry, confidently highlighted the progress in reversing the trend of rising deforestation during a presentation in Brasilia. However, he cautioned that the full-year outcome depends on upcoming challenges.

This data signifies a positive development for President Lula, who campaigned on a platform that included promises to combat illegal logging and address environmental degradation that occurred during his predecessor Bolsonaro’s tenure. Bolsonaro, a former far-right leader, had weakened environmental authorities and championed Amazon development, a stance that resonated with land speculators and farmers who had grievances against environmental regulations, resulting in a 15-year high in Amazon deforestation.