Brazil’s Amazon rainforest saw a dramatic decline in the area burned in 2025, according to new data released by the deforestation monitoring group MapBiomas. The report shows that 3.1 million hectares of the Amazon were burned last year, a sharp fall from the 15.8 million hectares recorded the previous year.
That 2025 figure is the smallest burned area logged since MapBiomas began tracking deforestation in 1985, and it comes as a welcome sign of progress for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who pledged zero deforestation when he took office in 2023.
In 2024, the Amazon experienced its worst fire season in over two decades, events that the Copernicus Climate Change Service attributed to a combination of climate extremes and human activity. However, cooler La Niña weather conditions that year helped reduce the risk of fires, a factor that likely contributed to the markedly lower burned area in 2025.
Scientists warn that the natural El Niño cycle, which can drive prolonged dry conditions, may still pose a threat in future years. The MapBiomas report urges that, even with the reduced numbers, continued aggressive prevention efforts are essential to maintain this trend.
Still, the decline is seen as a boost to Lula’s environmental agenda and a signal that Brazil’s re‑interventionary policies can make an impact. The data underscore the importance of vigilance, as any rebound in fire activity could soon undo years of gains.
