Brazil’s Amazon rainforest is experiencing unprecedented deforestation rates in 2025, with official data indicating a 27% increase in forest loss compared to the previous year. Between January and June, approximately 807 square miles (2,090 square kilometers) of forest were cleared, nearly double the size of New York City. 

This surge in deforestation is primarily attributed to a significant rise in wildfires. In May alone, forest loss surged by 92% compared to the same month in 2024, reaching 960 square kilometers. Experts suggest that the Amazon’s increased susceptibility to fire is making it a more attractive and less risky method for illegal land clearing. 

The Brazilian government has responded by implementing stricter environmental enforcement measures and initiating operations to remove illegally raised cattle from conservation areas. However, these actions have sparked protests and divisions among local communities who rely on livestock farming for their livelihoods. 

As Brazil prepares to host the COP30 climate summit in Belém later this year, the escalating deforestation crisis poses a significant challenge to the country’s environmental agenda and its commitment to combating climate change.