Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon fell to its lowest level in a decade during the first half of 2026, according to data from the National Institute for Space Research.

From January to June, 1,295 square kilometres of forest were cleared, a 38 percent decrease from the same period in 2025 and the smallest annual decrease since 2016.

The decline follows a steep drop in 2022 after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva began his fourth term, when he pledged to end illegal deforestation by 2030.

Deforestation had reached a peak in 2022 under his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, when approximately 13 times the area of New York City was cleared.

Lula's government has increased penalties for environmental crimes and revived an anti‑deforestation action plan, steps researchers say have contributed to the reduction.

Critics have said the government's approval of expanded oil exploration near the mouth of the Amazon River raises environmental concerns.

In June, U.S. officials cited illegal deforestation as a justification for new tariffs on Brazilian goods, while Lula's administration noted that the recent data undermined those arguments.

Lula stated that the reduction reflects a decision of his government, not of international bodies such as the United Nations or the Conference of Parties.

The Amazon absorbs large amounts of carbon and its preservation is linked to global climate regulation, a relationship that scientists and environmental groups monitor closely.

Lula is campaigning for re‑election and is expected to face Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, Bolsonaro's eldest son, in the October presidential race.