Brazilian Amazon deforestation falls to lowest on record as pivotal vote looms

Forest clearance lowest since records began in 1988 in success for Lula ahead of presidential run-off

Jonathan Watts

Published Oct 16, 2026

Brazilian Amazon deforestation falls to lowest on record as pivotal vote looms

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has fallen its lowest level since records began, new government data shows.

But whether this globally important success is maintained or reversed is on a knife edge ahead of a presidential election run-off on 25 October between two candidates with sharply different visions for the future of the rainforest and how that affects relations with the US under Donald Trump.

Source: The Guardian ↗

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Brazilian Amazon deforestation falls to lowest on record as pivotal vote looms

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