Climate change: Logging decline after political change in Brazil, Colombia [View all]
2 days ago
By Matt McGrath,
Environment correspondent

Observers say government action in Colombia has led to a reduction in primary forest loss
The number of trees lost in tropical forests in Brazil and Colombia fell dramatically last year because of political action, a new analysis finds.
Researchers say new leaders have prioritised the environment, with tree losses in the Brazilian Amazon down by a huge 39%.
. . .

The return to government of President Lula has coincided with a dramatic drop in forest losses in Brazil
In 2023, the tropics saw 3.7 million hectares of forest lost - equivalent to 10 football fields per minute, a slight decline on last year. These losses would have been far higher if it wasn't for Brazil and Colombia.
According to this new analysis, political action in both countries has had a significant impact on tree felling.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva came to power in Brazil last year promising to tackle tree losses and end deforestation by 2030.
As a result, there has been a 36% drop in primary forest losses in Brazil in 2023, compared to 2022.
"I think what we're seeing in Brazil, for example, is really a case of putting law enforcement back in place that was dismantled during the previous government," said Rod Taylor from WRI.
Given that Brazil was responsible for 43% of all tropical forest loss in 2022, this reduction is significant.
More:
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-68716874
(What a shock, learning progressive leaders protect the interests of the people, rather than the 1%!)