Since his return to power in 2023, deforestation in the Brazilian rainforest has dropped to historic lows.

Environmentalists had feared the election of right-wing candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, as it could have led to weakened protections for nature and the climate.

During the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro (2019–2023), environmental policies were dismantled, and deforestation surged by approximately 60 percent, with more than 45,000 square kilometers destroyed.

Under Lula, deforestation has fallen by 71 percent compared to 2022 levels, according to Euronews.com.

“Brazil is home to the largest portion of the planet’s biggest rainforest, along with five other biomes, which together contain about 15 percent of the world’s biodiversity,” the source notes.

Consequently, protecting these ecosystems extends far beyond the borders of this “South American Giant” and is essential for curbing biodiversity loss across the entire planet.

The rainforest also stores vast amounts of carbon dioxide—a greenhouse gas that warms the planet—and generates atmospheric moisture that helps regulate the climate well beyond South America.

The significant progress in reducing deforestation, Euronews.com points out, is due to the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation in the Legal Amazon.

This program strengthened satellite monitoring of illegal logging and the enforcement of penalties; it also employs regulations and financial incentives to curb deforestation and promote sustainable practices.

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