Amazon deforestation alerts fall to lowest 12-month level since 2014, show Brazilian data – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Brazilian authorities recorded a sharp decline in forest loss across the Amazon last month. Satellite monitoring showed just 370 square kilometers cleared in May, a 61 percent drop from the same period a year earlier. The figures extend a broader downward trend that now places the past twelve months at the lowest level since 2014.
Clear Numbers Tell the Story
Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research, known as INPE, operates the DETER alert system that tracks deforestation in near real time. Its May reading of 370 square kilometers stands in stark contrast to the 960 square kilometers flagged in May 2025. Over the full twelve-month window ending in May, DETER logged 3,182 square kilometers of clearing.
That total sits well below the 4,633 square kilometers recorded during the previous twelve months. The drop marks the smallest annual figure in the DETER dataset since monitoring began more than a decade ago. Monthly readings can shift with cloud cover and processing schedules, yet the longer pattern remains consistent.
Why May Matters
May typically signals the shift from wet to dry conditions across much of the southern and eastern Amazon. Forest clearing and fires often accelerate once rains ease. The latest data therefore offer an early signal for the months ahead, even as analysts caution that a strong El Niño could still intensify fire risk later in the season.
Independent monitoring from Imazon’s SAD system has tracked similar movements in the Legal Amazon region. Both datasets point to the same broad improvement. The combined picture suggests Brazil is on track for one of its lowest annual deforestation totals in more than ten years.
Comparison at a Glance
| Period | Deforestation (sq km) |
|---|---|
| May 2025 | 960 |
| May 2026 | 370 |
| 12 months ending May 2025 | 4,633 |
| 12 months ending May 2026 | 3,182 |
What Comes Next
Continued enforcement and monitoring will determine whether the recent gains hold through the drier months. The current trajectory already represents meaningful progress for one of the world’s most important tropical forests. Observers will watch closely to see if the downward trend persists into the second half of the year.
