Amazon Deforestation Drops to Decade Low

Brazil’s Amazon rainforest experienced its lowest level of deforestation in ten years during the first half of 2026, with a 35% decrease in deforestation alerts in June compared to the same period in 2025. The Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE) attributes the positive trend to advancements in public policies adopted in recent years. Experts emphasize that deforestation reduction is not inevitable and responds to political will and societal decisions.

Between August 2025 and June 2026, accumulated deforestation in the Amazon fell by 37.2%, while the Cerrado biome saw a decrease of 7.9%. However, environmental specialists caution that ongoing pressures like weakened environmental laws, wildfires, illegal mining, logging, and climate change continue to threaten the Amazon.

The end of the Soy Moratorium, an agreement to avoid purchasing soy from deforested areas, poses a new risk. A recent article in Science suggests deforestation could increase by 1.4 million hectares in the next decade. Maintaining current progress requires addressing both deforestation and wildfires simultaneously, and ensuring companies prioritize sustainability to remain competitive in increasingly environmentally conscious global markets.