Deforestation Drop A Welcome Boost For Amazon's Rainforest

The deforestation rate in the famous Amazon Rainforest was able to attain a low record for the last six years.

A BBC report cited information from the national space agency Inpe in which it stated that 500 square kilometers or 193 square miles of rainforest were cleared in Brazil as of July of this year. This translates to 66% less than in the figure during the same period of last year.

The space agency stressed that the area of forest that was cut down in the first seven months of 2023 was significantly smaller compared to what was razed in the same period in 2022.

Welcome boost

Based on the Deter satellite alert system, the practice of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell by 34% during the first six months of 2023. Other experts said in The Guardian report that the deforestation figures for July could even reach as high as 70 percent.

Forest Engineer Tasso Azevedo said experts are still figuring out this development; but he pointed out that what transpired could be considered as the sharpest drop since 2005.

Environment Minister Marina Silva, however, said that the figures for July should not be a sole basis for a downward trend on the deforestation rate. Silva said that a clearer picture on the Amazon Rainforest could be seen after a couple of years.

Still, Silva emphasized that she has been observing more encouraging signs on the status of the rainforest when compared with the last time that she served as environment minister from 2003 to 2008.

The minister expressed hope that this current development could be a "springboard" for a new cycle of prosperity in the Amazon Rainforest.

She said that this should be based on a sustainable utilization of resources, open markets to certified products, the development of bioeconomy, as well as a bigger financial aid and support from developed countries that are often the beneficiaries from the rainforest's role as a climate stabilizer and rainmaker.

Lula's tough stance in protecting environment

Experts attributed the fall of deforestation rate to the leadership of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who made a commitment to end deforestation by 2030 when he took office last January. Reports said that rainforest destruction had increased dramatically under his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.

To recall, environmental and indigenous rights groups had blamed the administration of Bolsonaro regarding the increase in deforestation and illicit activities in the Amazon Rainforest, which include illegal gold mining.

Under Bolsonaro's leadership, there was also rise in the number of violent incidents against indigenous communities in the area.

An Aljazeera report said Lula had instituted tougher environmental policies, which include strengthening law enforcement against environmental crimes and green economic development.

Furthermore, Lula has been trying to persuade the richest nations across the globe to pay for initiatives designed to safeguard the Amazon Rainforest.

Lula and Marina have vowed to achieve zero deforestation as they will continue to push for continued reductions in time for the United Nations Climate Conference or the COP30, which is expected to take place in the Amazon city of Belém in 2025.