Brazil records ten‑year low in Amazon deforestation for first half of 2026

Satellite‑based DETER‑B alerts show that deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell to 1,295 km² between January and June 2026, a 32 % drop from the same period in 2025 and the lowest total since the system began in 2016. In June alone, alerts registered 297 km², 35 % less than June 2025. The neighboring Cerrado biome also saw a decline, with a 6 % reduction in alerts over the same six‑month span.

Government officials credit the decrease to a renewed emphasis on environmental enforcement that started in 2023, while warning that challenges such as a strong El Niño event and potential legislative roll‑backs could threaten the trend. During a parliamentary session on World Environment Day, deputies highlighted the drop, urged more funding for the National Environment Fund, and praised recent laws on carbon markets, low‑carbon hydrogen, and sustainable fuels.

The story was also featured in the Semana Gov program, which tied the deforestation decline to broader public‑service updates, including health and fisheries initiatives, underscoring the government's multi‑sectoral approach to environmental and social policy.