Rainforest deforestation is on the rise again
Upon taking office, Brazil's President Lula promises to end the illegal deforestation of the Amazon rainforest by 2030. Over a year later, deforestation is on the rise again. The government attributes this increase to a strike at the environmental agency. They cite several reasons for this.
For the first time in 15 months, deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil has increased. In the past month, an area of 666 square kilometers - more than twice the size of Munich - was destroyed, according to official data. This is a 33 percent increase from the 500 square kilometers destroyed in July 2023.
The government attributes this July increase to a strike at the environmental protection agency, Ibama, and a very high reduction in deforestation in July 2023.
In the past 12 months, deforestation has decreased by 45.7 percent compared to the same period last year. Between August 2022 and July 2023, 7,952 square kilometers were destroyed by deforestation, compared to 4,315 square kilometers from August 2023 to July 2024.
Lula aims to end illegal deforestation by 2030
The Amazon rainforest spans nine countries, with most of it located in Brazil. It is one of the last remaining large primary forests in the world and is home to more plant and animal species than any other place on Earth. It is also a significant carbon sink due to its billions of trees.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has pledged to end illegal deforestation by 2030. Under his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, deforestation had significantly increased.
Despite President Lula's commitment to ending illegal deforestation in Brazil by 2030, recent data shows a contrary trend. The Amazon rainforest, a global biodiversity hotspot and significant carbon sink, experienced a 33% increase in deforestation in July 2023, with an area of 666 square kilometers being destroyed.
