Deforestation in Amazon Rainforest Hits Highest Level in Nearly a Decade

Data shows that deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest reached 7,800 square kilometers in the first three quarters of 2025, surging 32% year-on-year and marking the highest level for the same period since 2015. Illegal mining, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development are the primary drivers. Countries like Peru and Colombia have announced plans to expand forest protection zones and launch a rainforest carbon credit trading platform by 2026, aiming to curb deforestation through economic incentives. However, deforestation has already triggered localized increases in rainfall during the rainy season and severe droughts during the dry season, creating a vicious cycle of “deforestation – climate anomalies – further degradation.”