Estimates show deforestation in the Legal Amazon decreased by 11.27% in 2022

The National Institute for Space Research (INPE), a unit of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), released its estimate of the deforestation rate in the Brazilian Legal Amazon (ALB) this Wednesday (30). According to the public agency, 11,568 km deforested between 1 August 2021 and 31 July 2022^two of the forests🇧🇷

As a result of the Satellite Monitoring Program for the Brazilian Amazon Forest (PRODES), the forecast was made by mapping based on images from Landsat-8, Landsat-9 and Sentinel-2 satellites. The records measure over 6.25 hectares of deforested areas. The estimated value represents a reduction of 11.27% compared to PRODES 2021.

PRODES conceptualizes deforestation as “the final stage of progressive degradation of forest, in which primary forest cover is either completely removed by clearing or is completely lost regardless of the future use of these areas”. See the breakdown by State based on an analysis of the 108 priority scenes.

What does the decline in deforestation in the Legal Amazon represent?

It may be premature to read the reduction in deforestation in legal Amazonian states as good news, as the current estimate is 11,568 km.^two 11% lower, which means that registered in PRODES 2021 has exceeded 13 thousand km^two 🇧🇷 Highest number recorded since 2006🇧🇷 Also, the state-by-state comparison reveals a 13% increase in deforestation in Amazonas during this period.

When analyzed “as a whole”, the truth is that during the administration of Jair Bolsonaro (PL), the rate was over 10,000km for four years.^two, under five figures ten years later. Average rate of 11,400 km² in the last four years in the legal Amazon It represents a 59% increase over the previous four years’ average of 7.1 thousand km.^two🇧🇷