Brazilian Amazon Fires Reach Historic Low In 2025

Brazil’s Amazon rainforest experienced its lowest recorded level of fire activity in 2025, following a peak in 2024 when 15.8 million hectares burned. The MapBiomas environmental monitoring network released data showing only 3.1 million hectares were affected by fire last year, a dramatic reversal attributed to a shift in the rainy season and reduced deforestation since President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office in 2023.

The decline in fires also reflects increased caution within communities impacted by the 2024 blazes, who actively worked to control outbreaks. While the overall burned area across Brazil reached its lowest level since 2018, the Cerrado savanna continued to experience fire levels similar to the previous year.

Experts caution that a potential “super El Niño” event this year could bring prolonged drought and increase the risk of future fires. Lula, seeking re-election in October, is highlighting environmental improvements, though he faces criticism for supporting oil exploration near the Amazon.