Under Lula, Amazon deforestation falls to lowest level in a decade

Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest fell to its lowest level in a decade in the first half of 2026, with 1,295 square kilometers cleared, a 38 percent drop from the same period last year, according to Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE). The decline marks a milestone for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who pledged to protect the rainforest after the Bolsonaro era. However, Lula has faced criticism for authorizing oil exploration near the mouth of the Amazon River.