Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon declines to a record low level

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest has dropped to its lowest recorded level. According to Mongabay and Alabama's 42, official data shows that forest clearing declined by 42 percent over the recent monitoring period. Alabama's 42 reported that deforestation in the region reached its lowest level since 1988. [1][2][3]

Data released by Brazil's national space research institute, INPE, shows that total forest clearing reached 3,335 square kilometers, or 1,288 square miles, in the 12 months ended July 31, 2026, Mongabay reported. This loss represents an area smaller than the Spanish island of Mallorca. [1]

The Amazon rainforest spans an area of 3,000,000 square kilometers and is the largest tropical rainforest on Earth. Brazil contains 60 percent of the Amazon region, followed by Peru with 13 percent, Colombia with 10 percent, and Bolivia with 6 percent, alongside smaller portions in five other nations. More than one-third of the total rainforest is recognized as indigenous territory. [6]