Brazil’s Amazon deforestation remains high despite slight fall

August deforestation was lower than last year, but rates remain much higher than before Bolsonaro took office.

Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest fell in August compared with the same period a year earlier, continuing a downward trend while remaining higher than before right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro took office. Forest clearances in August totalled 918 square kilometres (354 square miles), down 32 percent from the same month in 2020, data from the country’s national space research agency (INPE) showed. The decrease marked the second month in a row deforestation numbers were lower than previous years.