2024 Brings Hope for the Future: Brazil's Deforestation Declines Significantly
Significant Reduction of Forest Clearing in Brazil Observed
Social Media Links: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Email | Print | Copy Link
In 2024, the size of Mallorca was spared as deforestation in Brazil experienced a significant drop of approximately 32%. According to a report by "MapBiomas", a coalition of NGOs, universities, and tech companies that scrutinize satellite images, the total deforested area decreased to 1.24 million hectares.
The Amazon, the world's lungs, saw a remarkable decrease of 17%, meaning around 378,000 hectares were cleared. Although it's still a concern, the decline offers hope for the fight against climate change and the preservation of biodiversity.
What Led to the Decrease?
- Political Will: Under the leadership of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil has committed to abolishing illegal deforestation by 2030. This political resolve has translated into stronger enforcement actions, contributing to the observed decline.
- Market Pressure: Although agribusiness remains the main culprit, there's an increasing push for sustainability from export markets, especially eco-conscious regions like the European Union. This market pressure encourages agribusinesses to reduce their deforestation rates.
- Enhanced Monitoring: Satellite monitoring efforts by MapBiomas and others have improved detection and response. Notably, two-thirds of Indigenous lands registered no deforestation in 2024.
- Economic Shifts: Some regions, such as Maranhão and parts of the Cerrado biome (Matopiba region), experienced lower vegetation loss due to a slowdown in agricultural expansion and better land management.
The Cerrado Takes a Brunt
Despite a 41% decrease compared to 2023, the Cerrado, Brazil's savannah in the southeast, remained the most deforested biome, with around 652,000 hectares lost.
Brazil is still far from the zero deforestation goal set by President Lula da Silva, but this significant decrease is a promising start. Since 2019, Brazil has lost a vegetated area the size of South Korea: 9.88 million hectares, two-thirds of which were in the Amazon region.
Implications for the Environment and Economy
- Climate Change Mitigation: The decrease in deforestation bolsters Brazil's role in global climate efforts by preserving carbon-absorbing forests essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Biodiversity Conservation: Slowing habitat destruction helps protect the rich biodiversity of Brazil’s biomes, including many endemic species.
- Sustainable Development and Trade: Lower deforestation rates improve Brazil’s access to sustainable markets, potentially boosting agribusiness with more environmental responsibility while maintaining economic growth.
[1][2][3][4]
- Deforestation
- Rainforest
- Amazon
- Climate Change
- Biodiversity
- Sustainable Development
- Trade
The Commission has also been consulted on the following issues: science, health-and-wellness, climate-change, and environmental-science, in light of the significant drop in deforestation in Brazil, which offers hope for the fight against climate change and the preservation of biodiversity. This decline in deforestation bolsters Brazil's role in global climate efforts, as it helps preserve carbon-absorbing forests essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, slowing habitat destruction aids in the conservation of the rich biodiversity of Brazil’s biomes, including many endemic species.
