The latest data from Brazil's space research institute, INPE, shows that deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon decreased by 66.11 percent in August 2023 compared to the same month in the previous year. This significant reduction in deforestation is seen as a positive development for the Amazon rainforest, which plays a crucial role in absorbing carbon and mitigating global warming.These improvements in deforestation rates follow a similar 66 percent year-on-year drop in July. Both August and July are typically critical months for the Amazon, as deforestation tends to surge during this period due to drier weather conditions.The previous government, led by Jair Bolsonaro from 2019 to 2022, was criticized for its handling of deforestation in the Amazon, with a sharp increase observed during his tenure. The current administration, under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who returned to office in January, has made protecting the Amazon a priority.One key strategy to combat deforestation is the establishment of Indigenous reserves, which serve as important barriers against deforestation. President Lula announced the demarcation of two new Indigenous reserves and has previously recognized six others, allowing Indigenous communities to occupy the land and have exclusive use of its resources. The government plans to demarcate an additional six reserves by the end of the year.It's worth noting that Brazil has approximately 800 reserves, but a significant portion of them has not been officially demarcated, according to Brazil's Indigenous affairs agency. This is a crucial step in protecting Indigenous lands and the Amazon as a whole.There is an ongoing legal issue related to the recognition of ancestral territories, with a Supreme Court decision pending. Currently, the law only recognizes territories occupied by Indigenous communities at the time of Brazil's 1988 constitution. Indigenous leaders argue that some territories were no longer occupied due to past expulsions, particularly during the military dictatorship from the 1960s to the 1980s. The outcome of this case could impact the recognition of Indigenous lands.Overall, the reduction in deforestation rates and the demarcation of new Indigenous reserves are seen as positive steps in Brazil's efforts to protect the Amazon rainforest and combat climate change.
