Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell by half last year, according to figures released on Friday. On the other hand, in the less well-known savannah area of Cerrado, much vegetation has disappeared.
Based on satellite images, it has been calculated that 5,152 square kilometers of forest in the Amazon were destroyed last year, a decrease of 50 percent compared to 2022. The largest rainforest in the world plays an important role in reducing climate change, because trees absorb a lot of CO2.
“We have seen some important environmental victories in 2023. The significant reduction in deforestation in the Amazon was a highlight,” said Mariana Napolitano of the Brazilian branch of the World Wildlife Fund.
In the Cerrado, a tropical forest and savannah area, there is an opposite trend. More than 7,800 square kilometers of vegetation were lost there last year, the largest area since monitoring began in 2018. Environmental groups accuse President Lula’s government of turning a blind eye to the destruction of the lesser-known Cerrado to accommodate the powerful agricultural industry to come. According to experts, the devastation in both the Amazon and the Cerrado is mainly caused by agriculture.
After the experienced leftist Lula defeated the far-right Jair Bolsonaro in the elections, he returned as president on January 1, 2023. He vowed that “Brazil is back” as a partner in the fight against climate change and strengthened environmental policies. Bolsonaro, president from 2019 to 2022, received a lot of international criticism because deforestation increased sharply under his leadership.
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