Brazil sees record fall in Amazon deforestation ahead of election
Brazil has reported a historic decline in deforestation rates across both the Amazon rainforest and the Cerrado savanna region. Satellite data shows a 41.8% drop in the Amazon for the year up to July 2026, marking the largest decrease since records began in 1988. The milestone comes as President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva faces a tight election run-off against Flavio Bolsonaro, son of the former president. While Lula's administration has tightened environmental monitoring, the opposition advocates for policies historically tied to land clearance. Environmental experts have hailed the figures as a testament to effective political will and rigorous enforcement. The Amazon remains a vital carbon sink in the global fight against climate change, housing millions of species.