Deforestation: How Brazil Compares to Other Countries

In early July, the government of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had some very good news for the world regarding the Amazon rainforest.

Brazil’s government released satellite data showing a nearly 34% decrease in deforestation during the first six months of Lula’s term. During the previous month in particular, there was a 41% plunge in alerts for possible deforestation compared to June 2022.

This welcome bit of news comes as a reversal of the trend of soaring deforestation seen in the previous few years, which reached a 15-year high under former President Jair Bolsonaro. One report showed a 60% increase in deforestation between 2019 and 2022.

With the newest figures, the continued hope is that 2023 is the year that Brazil reverses the trend and resumes its fight against deforestation in the world’s most biodiverse forest. Lula, who took steps to drastically cut down on deforestation during his first two terms, has notably declared that he wants to end all deforestation in his country by 2030.

“There will be no climate security if the Amazon isn’t protected,” the 77-year old leader declared at last year’s United Nations climate conference in Egypt.

Brazil – and some of its neighbors – may have a unique responsibility in the world as a custodian of the Amazon rainforest. However, the countries of South America are far from alone in this fight. In our chart above, we showcase the hectares lost to deforestation around the world since 2001. Even with progress in certain key countries, deforestation is on the rise globally, demonstrating that there’s much work to be done to ensure sustainable development while protecting natural resources like forestry.

Through protecting certain areas from demolishment, utilizing federal resources, and empowering local indigenous leaders who live within the rainforest, Brazil can continue its great progress and ensure generations to come may enjoy the beauty and vitality of the world’s largest rainforest.