At least 1.986 km2 of forest cover was destroyed between January and May on the surface of the world's largest tropical forest, compared to 2.867 km2 in the same period in 2022, according to the DETER monitoring program, run by the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe).
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The Inpe data was good news for environmentalists, who placed their hopes in Lula. The president took office on January 1, promehaving fought to end illegal deforestation after the fires in the Amazon under the government of his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022).
Average annual deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has increased by more than 75% compared to the previous decade during Bolsonaro's presidency.
On Monday, World Environment Day, Lula announced a new and comprehensive plan to combat deforestation, with hundreds of goals and objectives, including the immediate seizure of half of the territory that is being illegally exploited for logging, agriculture, mining and other activities on protected lands.
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Experts say the real test of the new government will begin in the coming months, with the start of drier weather in the Amazon from July, the peak season for deforestation and forest fires.
The Lula government suffered a series of environmental setbacks this week at the hands of Congress, in which his conservative opponents hold a majority.
Last week, deputies approved bills that cut the powers of the Ministries of the Environment and Indigenous Peoples and drastically reduce the protection of indigenous lands.
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