Amazon burned area hits lowest level since records began in 1985

Amazon forest fires peaked during a crushing 2024 drought, but just a year later, the total burned area dropped to its lowest level since records began in 1985, reports Euronews.Data from the environmental monitoring network MapBiomas reveals that 3.1 million hectares burned across the Brazilian Amazon in 2025. This historic low marks a sharp reversal from 2024, when unprecedented drought triggered widespread human-made fires that swept through the world’s largest tropical rainforest, destroying vast stretches of carbon-absorbing trees and wildlife.The dramatic shift stems from a mix of shifting weather patterns, dropping deforestation rates, and heightened community awareness following the previous year’s destruction.The decline was "out of the ordinary", MapBiomas report coordinator and geographer Ane Alencar told news agency AFP.Unusual weather played a direct role in suppressing flames. A delayed rainy season between 2024 and 2025 shortened the period when land is typically cleared with fire for farming.