In 2025, the area of land burned in Brazil's Amazon rainforest dropped dramatically to around 12.7 million hectares, compared to 30 million hectares in 2024. This represents the smallest burned area since MapBiomas records began in 1985 and a 31% decrease compared to the historical average.

The severe fires of 2024, the worst in over two decades, were attributed by the Copernicus Climate Change Service to a combination of climate extremes and human activity. The reduction in 2025 is partly credited to cooler La Niña weather conditions replacing the warmer El Niño pattern, which had contributed to the previous year's fires.

Vera Arruda, a researcher at the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM) and coordinator at MapBiomas, told the BBC, "The 2025 figures are significant and show that it is possible to reduce the burned area in the country." However, she cautioned that the drop does not yet confirm an established trend or justify scaling back prevention efforts.

MapBiomas also warned that the return of El Niño, which raises global temperatures, could extend the dry season and increase the risk of forest fires in the Amazon. The rainforest continues to face pressures from decades of land clearance for agriculture and logging, alongside climate change, which scientists warn can create conditions for larger fires.

Since taking office, President Lula has pledged to reverse the deforestation that occurred during the presidency of his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, aiming for zero deforestation in the Amazon.

Sources