Full Breakdown
Amazon Deforestation Hits Decade Low in First Half of 2024
7/11/2026, 12:55:45 AM
Core Findings: Record Low Deforestation
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell to its lowest level in a decade during the January-June period of 2024, according to figures released by the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) on Friday. The satellite-based data show that 1,295 square kilometres (500 square miles) of forest were cleared, a 38 percent drop from the same period in 2025 and the smallest total since 2016.
Background: Policy Shifts from Bolsonaro to Lula
The decline follows a reversal of trends that peaked under former president Jair Bolsonaro, whose far-right administration saw Amazon loss surge to an area roughly 13 times the size of New York City in 2022. After Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva returned to the presidency, he pledged to eradicate illegal deforestation by 2030, a commitment that has coincided with a halving of cleared area in 2023 and continued reductions in 2024.
Statistics: Area Cleared and Parallel Trends
- Amazon (Jan-Jun 2024): 1,295 km² cleared – lowest since 2016.
- Amazon (same period 2025): 38 % higher, per INPE comparison.
- Cerrado savanna (Jan-Jun 2024): 3,142 km² cleared, the lowest level since 2021, roughly twice the size of London.
- Peak under Bolsonaro (2022): Deforestation area about 13 × New York City; this figure was cut in half in 2023 after Lula’s return.
Official Government Position
President Lula’s administration emphasizes the 2024 results as evidence that the “zero-illegal-deforestation by 2030” agenda is gaining traction. Government officials cite the satellite monitoring system as a transparent tool confirming the downward trend and underscore the Amazon’s role in carbon storage and climate regulation.
Environmental Criticism
Despite the progress, environmental groups have voiced concern over Lula’s support for an oil-exploration project near the Amazon River’s mouth, arguing that the initiative could undermine recent gains. The criticism highlights a tension between economic development ambitions and the preservation of the rainforest’s ecological functions.
