The Take How did Lula da Silva cut Amazon deforestation in half?
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Aug 25, 2025 
Constance Malleret, a freelance journalist focused on Brazil’s environmental issues, discusses President Lula da Silva's ambitious pledge to cut Amazon deforestation. She reveals how his government reduced deforestation rates by 50% in just one year. The conversation dives into the complexities of organized crime, illegal mining, and their severe environmental impacts. They explore the challenges faced by indigenous communities and highlight the need for international cooperation to protect the Amazon while managing pressures from powerful agribusiness interests.
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Target Funding And Coordinate Enforcement
- Direct funding and personnel to field enforcement to restore capacity decimated under the prior administration.
- Coordinate federal, state and municipal governments to ensure local enforcement backs national policy.
Federal Promises Need Local Partners
- Political will in Brasilia must be matched by cooperation with state and municipal authorities to be effective on the ground.
- Federal promises alone cannot stop deforestation without local enforcement partners.
Half Reduction Against A High Baseline
- A 50% drop in deforestation is meaningful but came after extraordinarily high baseline losses under Bolsonaro.
- MapBiomas found last year eight trees were cut down every second in the Amazon, showing the scale of remaining loss.