According to recent data from the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe), deforestation rates in the Amazon rainforest have significantly decreased by 56.4% in January 2026 compared to January of the previous year. The total area deforested this January was recorded at 722 hectares, down from 1,656 hectares in January 2025. Additionally, alerts for deforestation also saw a considerable decline, dropping by 42.8% from 77 alerts last year to just 44 this year. This marks one of the lowest deforestation rates observed for this month in recent history.

Further analysis of the data indicates that the last time the Amazon recorded an area lower than 722 hectares of deforestation in January was in 2021, when the figures stood at 586 hectares. January 2023 also had a lower alert count with only 30 notifications. The areas most affected by deforestation in January 2026 included Humaitá, which had the largest losses at 265 hectares, followed by Canutama and Apuí with 79 and 69 hectares respectively, highlighting the specific regions that are still facing significant threats of deforestation.

These reduced figures may suggest a positive trend in conservation efforts within the Amazon, though the areas with the highest deforestation still indicate ongoing challenges that need to be addressed. Continued monitoring and enforcement of environmental protections will be crucial in sustaining these improvements and addressing the ongoing threats to this vital ecosystem.