Record low Amazon deforestation

4 December 2012


The loss of the Amazon rainforest has reached its lowest level since monitoring began 24 years ago, according to new satellite data from Brazil’s National Institute of Space Research.

Satellite imagery showed that 1,798 square miles of forest were deforested between August 2011 and July 2012.

Environment minister Izabella Teixeira said it was 27% less than a year before, and the institute confirmed it was the lowest since measuring began in 1988.

More than 60% of the Amazon rainforest is in Brazil and the latest figures show that the country is close to its 2020 target of reducing deforestation by 80% from 1990 levels.

Up to July 2012, deforestation dropped by 76%. The government seized 2,000m2 of illegally felled timber during the year, which is sold at auction to help fund environmental preservation programmes.