Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon declines by 30.6% to lowest level in nine years

Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon fell by 30.6% over the past year, reaching its lowest level in nine years. The rainforest lost 6,288 square kilometers, about the size of Delaware. This decline contrasts sharply with the previous administration's record high deforestation rates. In addition to the Amazon, deforestation in Brazil's savannah decreased by 25.7%, marking the first decline in five years. However, environmentalists have raised concerns about government projects that may threaten these ecosystems, including highway construction and oil drilling. The report does not include recent fire damage, which may affect future deforestation rates. Officials are monitoring the situation closely, especially with the upcoming U.N. climate talks in Belem.