Brazil: Amazon deforestation lowest in nearly 40 years

Brazil has recorded the lowest level of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in nearly 40 years. According to data released by the Brazilian space research agency Inpe on Friday, between August 2025 and July 2026, 3,335 square kilometers (1,288 square miles) of forest were cleared, the lowest level witnessed since records began in 1988. The numbers showed a nearly 42% decrease from last year's figure of 5,731 square kilometers. The Amazon is the world's largest tropical rainforest and one of its most biodiverse ecosystems, most of which lies in Brazil. It also extends into parts of Peru, Colombia and other South American countries. Deforestation and the illegal exploitation of resources have been pushing it closer to a climate tipping point.