This has caused the Brazilian Amazon to lose a staggering 52 million hectares of natural land since 1985. That’s bigger than the whole country of Spain! This shocking statistic underscores what has been for far too long the dirty secret of the region’s environmental injustice. Natural areas have decreased from 80% in 1985 to an estimated 65% by 2024. The accelerated conversion of land for agriculture, mining, urban development, and infrastructure has raised significant concerns among environmentalists and policymakers alike.
Further, the data shows that Brazil had already converted about 60% of the land we now use for agriculture, urban areas, pastureland, etc. by 1985. By 2004, rates of deforestation were at their highest. Image credit: uMundo / shutterstock This dramatic time laid ecological scars across the Amazon. Brazil is still losing more land to deforestation every year. DEFIT is still fighting despite the current battle to combat it. In fact, today the country has lost almost 111.7 million hectares—an area more than three times the size of Germany.
Trends in Deforestation
Given recent headlines touting a record drop in Amazon deforestation, this may seem an odd assertion to make. Over the past ten years, this cut was as high as a remarkable 28%. The victory is a welcome and much-needed development, coming as it does in stark contrast to the rapid deforestation that characterized the previous regimes. Even with an energized advocacy community, experts caution that real hurdles remain. These challenges are of particular alarm considering climatic shifts have exacerbated moisture conditions across the arid West. The water surface in the Amazon is an astonishing 73% below normal. This dataset spans 1985-2024.
Destruction of raw territory not only threatens animals and plant life, it increases the possibility of climate-changing intense wilderness fires. These types of fires have become more common as humidity has dropped, exacerbating damage to the already fragile ecosystems found within the Amazon. The Pantanal is the world’s largest wetland and richest ecosystem. It’s in deep trouble, flood cycles have been cut in half every decade. Last year was the driest year in the Pantanal in more than 40 years.
The Broader Environmental Impact
The environmental crisis is not limited to the Amazon. The Cerrado, Brazil’s rich moist savannas, has seen the loss of about 40 million ha of native vegetation in the last 40 years. Beyond the direct loss of these native species lies a more insidious trend that puts our national wildlife at risk and undermines climate stability – biodiversity loss. When natural habitats are lost, the capacity of these ecosystems to sequester carbon and protect biodiversity is greatly diminished.
In response to these pressing issues, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has made a significant pledge aimed at reversing these trends. He has pledged to bring “zero deforestation” to Brazil by 2030, invigorating the country’s previously established target. This ambitious goal aims to protect remaining natural areas and mitigate further environmental degradation as Brazil grapples with its role in global climate change.
Future Discussions on Climate Action
Brazil has long led the world in its approach to addressing these daunting environmental challenges. As it plays out, all eyes in the world will turn towards November’s 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30). This world-class conference will engage world leaders on the most important issues, from accelerating climate action to stopping deforestation in the Amazon basin. The outcomes of these discussions could play a pivotal role in shaping policies aimed at preserving the Amazon and other crucial ecosystems.
