Brazil sees record fall in Amazon deforestation as key election looms
Brazil has reported a record 41.8% drop in Amazon deforestation rates ahead of a high-stakes presidential runoff election. The decline follows policy shifts by President Lula da Silva, who has prioritized environmental monitoring and penalties for illegal logging.
Why it matters
The Amazon is a critical carbon sink for the planet, and its preservation is a central issue in global climate change mitigation efforts.
Image source, Getty Images By Ione Wells , Americas correspondent and Joel Guinto , BBC News Published 12 minutes ago Brazil's government says deforestation rates in the country's Amazon and savanna regions have fallen to record lows ahead of a presidential election run-off where the rainforest's future is a key issue.
Left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, when he assumed office three years ago, pledged to end deforestation by 2030 in the Amazon. It had surged under his right-wing predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.
On 25 October, Lula will face Bolsonaro's son Flavio in the run-off, with polls suggesting a neck-and-neck race. Flavio is expected to continue his father's policies if he wins, though he has pledged to fight organised crime in the Amazon.
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