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The Guardian World1 min read
Brazil’s Atlantic forest records lowest deforestation in 40 years
TL;DR
Brazil's Atlantic forest recorded its lowest deforestation in 40 years, with only 8,658 hectares lost in 2025. Environmentalists are hopeful for zero deforestation soon but caution against potential risks from new legislation and upcoming elections.
Key points
- Brazil's Atlantic forest recorded its lowest deforestation in 40 years
- Deforestation fell to 8,658 hectares in 2025
- Environmentalists are hopeful for zero deforestation soon
- Risks include new legislation weakening environmental laws
- Upcoming elections could impact environmental protection policies
Mentioned in this story
BrazilAtlantic forestFlávio BolsonaroLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva
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 São 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: Flávio Bolsonaro, the senator and son of the former president Jair Bolsonaro, is tied in the polls with the current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who will seek re-election.
“It’s a very worrying scenario,” said Luís Fernando Guedes Pinto, executive director of the NGO SOS Mata Atlântica, who added that, with a victory for Bolsonaro, “Brazil could lose the opportunity to be a global environmental leader”.
During the elder Bolsonaro’s 2019–23 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 Flávio 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 obstacles to development,” said Pinto.
Q&A
What is the current deforestation rate in Brazil's Atlantic forest?
In 2025, Brazil's Atlantic forest recorded a deforestation rate of 8,658 hectares, the lowest since monitoring began 40 years ago.
What could threaten the recent progress in reducing deforestation in Brazil?
The recent approval of the 'devastation bill' and the potential return of a far-right government opposed to environmental protections could threaten progress.
How significant is the Atlantic forest to Brazil's population?
The Atlantic forest is Brazil's most populous biome, home to 80% of the population and major cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
What are environmentalists saying about the future of deforestation in Brazil?
Environmentalists are optimistic about achieving zero deforestation in the Atlantic forest within a few years but warn of risks that could reverse gains.
