Brazil's Atlantic forest records lowest deforestation in 40 years

"Brazil's Atlantic forest, the country's most threatened biome, last year recorded its lowest level of deforestation since monitoring began 40 years ago, a new report shows. The forest is Brazil's most populous biome, and home to 80% of the population and major cities such as Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. In 2025 it recorded 8,658 hectares of deforestation, marking the first time it has fallen below 10,000 hectares since 1985."

"Environmentalists have welcomed the results, which they say could even lead to zero deforestation in the Atlantic forest within just a few years, but warned of potential risks that could reverse the downward trend of recent years. One is the recent approval of the so-called devastation bill in Brazil's congress that drastically weakens environmental law. The other is the prospect of a far-right government, opposed to environmental protection policies, returning to power in the October presidential election."

"It's a very worrying scenario, said Luis Fernando Guedes Pinto, executive director of the NGO SOS Mata Atlantica, who added that, with a victory for Bolsonaro, Brazil could lose the opportunity to be a global environmental leader. During the elder Bolsonaro's 201923 administration, his policies led to a historic surge in deforestation and a gold rush into Indigenous lands. Many scientists, environmentalists and activists fear such rampant destruction could return if his son, who has vowed to follow his father's playbook, comes to power."

"We have seen the return of a policy to combat deforestation under the current government [If Flavio Bolsonaro wins] there is a risk of returning to a path of rising deforestation across all biomes, because his political group the same as his father's is anti-science, denies climate science, and sees nature and forests as obstacl"

Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, the most threatened biome, recorded its lowest deforestation level since monitoring began 40 years ago. In 2025, deforestation totaled 8,658 hectares, the first time it dropped below 10,000 hectares since 1985. The biome supports 80% of Brazil’s population and major cities including Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Environmentalists welcomed the decline and suggested it could lead to zero deforestation within a few years. Risks include recent congressional approval of a bill that weakens environmental law. Another risk is the October presidential election, where Flavio Bolsonaro is tied in polls with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and a Bolsonaro victory could reduce Brazil’s environmental leadership and enable higher deforestation across biomes.

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