Understanding the Surge in Deforestation Alerts in the Amazon

The Legal Amazon, a region marked by stark contradictions between official data and alarming trends, recorded in April 2025 a 55% increase in deforestation alerts compared to the same month in 2024, according to the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). This resurgence follows a historic low in February, when only 81 km² of forest were destroyed—a 64.3% decrease year-over-year. Such fluctuation reveals a complex scenario: while enforcement policies show seasonal efficacy, structural deficiencies continue to place the biome at considerable risk.

February: A Fragile Truce During the Amazonian Rainy Season

The record decline in February was attributed by the federal government to the reinforcement of the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation in the Legal Amazon (PPCDAm), which is backed by BRL 730 million in funding through 2027. Real-time monitoring technologies and coordinated operations with the Federal Police in critical regions, such as northern Mato Grosso, contributed to the outcome.

However, experts warn that the rainy season—commonly referred to as the “Amazonian winter”—naturally inhibits deforestation. The Climate Observatory emphasized: “The true test will come between May and August, when the soil dries and chainsaws regain momentum.” In 2024, for instance, alerts surged by 42% during the dry season, despite similar reductions earlier in the year.

April: Red Alert and Interministerial Mobilization

The 55% surge in April—270 km² deforested compared to 174 km² in April 2024—prompted urgent governmental response. An interministerial commission was assembled to analyze the data, focusing on the most critical states: Amazonas, Mato Grosso, and Pará, which collectively account for approximately 80% of all alerts. Emergency measures include:

• Hiring firefighting brigades in 17 states;

• Freezing BRL 2.1 billion in rural credit for embargoed municipalities;

• Improving timber traceability systems.

  
  

Despite these measures, the cumulative deforestation from August 2024 to April 2025 still reflects a 5% reduction, indicating a persistently positive—albeit unstable—long-term trend.

Forest Degradation: The Silent Crisis Surpassing Deforestation

While deforestation figures fluctuate, forest degradation—comprising fires, selective logging, and drought—reached 33,807 km² between 2024 and 2025. Wildfires, exacerbated by two consecutive years of extreme drought, accounted for 66% of this damage. “Degradation weakens the forest's carbon sequestration capacity and could emit more CO₂ than total deforestation by 2030,” INPE warns.

In Pará, municipalities like Prainha lead in degradation, with 67 km² affected in January alone—equivalent to 6,700 football fields. Protected areas, such as the Tapajós Environmental Protection Area (APA), are also under threat: 0.3 km² were degraded by illegal gold mining activities in January 2025.

Pressure on Indigenous Lands and Protected Areas

Although 79% of recent deforestation occurred on private lands, protected units are not immune. In January 2025, seven of the ten most impacted Indigenous territories were in Roraima, including the Yanomami Indigenous Territory, where 0.2 km² were degraded. In Amazonas, the Alto Rio Negro Indigenous Territory lost 0.08 km² to organized invasions.

The federal government responded with Interministerial Ordinance No. 1,309, which regulates the use of public forests by traditional communities through Contracts for the Granting of Real Rights of Use (CCDRU). The initiative aims to harmonize environmental protection with sustainable livelihoods, although critics highlight sluggish implementation.

COP30 and Green Forest Environmental Consulting

The degradation surge threatens Brazil’s COP30 commitment to reduce emissions by 67% by 2035. In 2025, the Amazon emitted 1.2 billion metric tons of CO₂ equivalent—representing 40% of the national total. IPCC models warn that without mitigation, the biome could transition into a savannah by 2050.

With over seven years of experience in the state of Pará, Green Forest Environmental Consulting has established itself as a benchmark in land regularization, environmental licensing, and sustainable development projects. Its technical expertise is instrumental in reconciling economic growth with environmental preservation in the Amazon region.

References:

1. Alerta de desmatamento na Amazônia sobe 55% (G1)

2. Inpe: menor desmatamento histórico em fevereiro (G1)

3. Aumento de 55% no desmatamento em abril (Política Brasileira)

4. Menor índice de fevereiro (Agência Gov)

5. Regularização de florestas públicas (Governo Federal)

6. Mobilização governamental (Agência Brasil)

7. Aumento de 68% em janeiro (Imazon)

8. Crescimento de 18% no desmatamento (Brasil de Fato)

9. Edital Restaura Amazônia (Governo Federal)