In Brazil, several states have recently made efforts to reduce protections for the Amazon rainforest. These actions have been driven by pressure from agricultural groups, including cattle ranchers and soybean producers, who seek to expand farming areas by clearing forests. This push for more agricultural land directly conflicts with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s goals to reduce deforestation. The loss of forests in Brazil significantly contributes to carbon emissions, raising concerns about the country’s ability to meet its deforestation targets for 2030. The Amazon is vital for global climate stability, as it holds the most biodiverse ecosystem and a large portion of the world’s freshwater.

A new law passed in the state of Acre in August 2024 has allowed the privatization of protected forest areas. This law aims to legalize settlements in conservation units and has been welcomed by agribusiness groups, who believe that forests restrict economic growth. However, environmentalists argue that it may lead to further deforestation. Satellite data has shown an increase in illegal deforestation in Acre and neighboring states like Rondonia, where efforts to cancel conservation units have resulted in severe forest fires. These developments create significant challenges for Brazil’s environmental goals, emphasizing the need to preserve the Amazon for global climate health.