Brazilian Amazon Sees Sharp Drop in Acres Burned
5 hours ago
- In 2024, the Brazilian Amazon saw a record low of 7.7 million acres burned, a sharp drop from 39 million acres the previous year.
- The decline was driven by a shift from El Niño in 2024, which caused severe drought and fires, to La Niña in 2025, which brought more rainfall and record-low fire counts in 41 years.
- Analysts warn that the improvement may be temporary due to a new El Niño forming, which could bring drought again.
- Brazil can combat fire spread by planting native vegetation on degraded lands, as 64% of burned areas have burned multiple times, most within four years.