Amazon Deforestation Hits Record Low—Election Could Reverse It
Part of composite article Amazon Deforestation Hits 40-Year Low—But 33 Million Non-Voters Could Hand the Election to Bolsonaro View full article →
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has dropped to its lowest level since records began in 1988, according to new government data. The decline marks a major win for President Lula ahead of a presidential run-off election on 25 October.
However, the future of this progress hangs in the balance. The two candidates in the run-off hold sharply different views on the rainforest's future and on Brazil's relations with the US under Donald Trump. Whether the decline continues—or reverses—depends on the outcome of that vote.