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Lula aims to end illegal deforestation in the Amazon by 2030. After a drop of 45,7% in one year, the challenge grows with an increase of 33% in July, highlighting the importance of Prodes and Deter
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has as one of his main environmental goals reducing illegal deforestation in the Amazon to zero by 2030. Although the government has demonstrated significant progress, the challenge remains monumental, especially given the recent increase in the deforestation rate observed in July 2024, after 15 consecutive months of decline.
2023 results and the impact of Prodes
Illegal deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has fallen 45,7% last year, reaching the lowest level since 2016. According to data from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), between August 1, 2023 and July 31, 2024, the Amazon lost 4.314 square kilometers of vegetation. This decline is attributed to more intense enforcement efforts and the return of robust environmental policies, weakened under the previous administration.
The system Prodes (Amazon Deforestation Calculation Program) has been fundamental in monitoring and controlling deforestation in the region. Created in 1988, Prodes uses satellite images, such as those from Landsat, CBERS and Sentinel, to measure annual rates of deforestation through clear-cutting. Prodes is considered a global reference in forest monitoring, and its measurements are essential for the development of long-term public policies that aim to contain the destruction of the Amazon and the Cerrado.
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However, Prodes is not alone in this task. Complementing it is the system Hold (Real-Time Deforestation Detection), which was launched in 2004 and provides daily alerts on deforestation, allowing environmental agencies, such as Ibama, to act quickly against illegal activities. While Prodes provides a more accurate annual view of deforestation, Deter allows an immediate response to new outbreaks of destruction, playing a crucial role in preventing more extensive damage.
Recent challenges and influential variables
Despite the downward trend last year, illegal deforestation peaked in July 2024, with the destruction of 666 square kilometers of vegetation. This increase was 33% compared to July 2023 and 44,4% compared to June 2024. This growth can be explained by a combination of factors, such as the intense drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon, the strike by Ibama employees and the approach of municipal elections, a period in which mayors tend to be more permissive with illegal activities.
Impact on states and conservation units
The reduction in deforestation was most pronounced in five of the nine states that make up the Brazilian Amazon. Rondônia, Amazonas, Acre, Mato Grosso and Pará recorded the biggest percentage drops. To the Conservation units and the Indigenous Territories also played a crucial role in this reduction, with drops in 67% e 50%respectively.
Lula da Silva's plan to achieve zero illegal deforestation by 2030 is ambitious, but essential for the preservation of the Amazon biome. Strengthening resources for inspection and the continued use of monitoring systems such as Prodes and Deter will be fundamental to achieving this objective. However, the recent increase in deforestation serves as a warning that challenges remain, requiring continued vigilance and effective policies to ensure the Amazon continues to play its vital role in global climate balance.
