Deforestation and degradation of the Amazon
Clear-cutting in Brazil's Amazon fell to its lowest level in 11 years in 2025 — but degradation from fire and logging is rising, and the forest's resilience is weakening.
How this affects people
The Amazon stores vast amounts of carbon, recycles rainfall across South America and holds an extraordinary share of Earth's species. Indigenous territories are among its best-protected areas.
Brazil's official PRODES monitoring recorded 5,796 km² of deforestation in the Legal Amazon between August 2024 and July 2025, down 11% and the lowest rate in over a decade. That is real progress from enforcement and policy.
But the pattern is shifting: a growing share of loss comes from progressive degradation — fire, selective logging and drought — rather than clear-cutting. Scientists warn that combined deforestation, degradation and warming could push parts of the forest toward a drier, savanna-like state.
Look at what keeps the problem going
- 01Cattle ranching and soy expansion on cleared land
- 02Illegal logging, land-grabbing and mining
- 03Fires, often set for clearing, spreading in drought years
- 04Roads and infrastructure opening remote forest
What could happen next
The future leaves room for choices. Compare the outlooks, check what supports them and notice where the evidence becomes less certain
Clear-cutting low, fire risk high
If enforcement holds, clear-cut deforestation can keep falling. Drought and fire seasons remain the main short-term threat through degradation.
The future is not a timetable. These summaries reflect published scenarios and trends, with deeper uncertainty at longer horizons. Choices made now matter.
Where could a useful response begin?
Begin with a question you can investigate. Compare the sources and follow related briefings to see how the problem connects to other lives and places. This prototype does not accept proposals yet.
This preview does not accept proposals or create an account.