Key facts
- Fires in the Brazilian Amazon burned 3.1 million hectares in 2025, the lowest figure since records began in 1985.
- This represents a significant decrease from the 15.8 million hectares burned in 2024, which was marked by an unprecedented drought.
- Deforestation rates also declined in 2025, contributing to the reduction in fire fuel.
- A potential "super El Niño" event could lead to an extended dry season and heightened fire risk in the region.
- President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has pledged to end deforestation by 2030.
Forest fires in the Brazilian Amazon reached a historic low in 2025, with 3.1 million hectares burned, according to a new report from environmental monitoring network MapBiomas. This marks the smallest area burned since records began in 1985 and represents a significant reduction from the 15.8 million hectares consumed by fires in 2024, a year characterized by an unprecedented drought.
The decline in fires is attributed to several factors, including a delayed rainy season that blocked the optimal period for agricultural burning and a "psychological factor" where communities actively helped control outbreaks due to fears of a repeat of the severe 2024 season. Deforestation rates also eased, reducing the amount of fuel available for fires.
This progress is a positive development for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who pledged to end deforestation by 2030. Deforestation has already dropped significantly since he took office in 2022. However, the report warns that the potential arrival of a "super El Niño" could bring an extended dry season and increase the risk of forest fires in the Amazon.
While fires eased across the country, the Cerrado savanna maintained similar burning rates. The report highlights the importance of protecting the Amazon for global climate security, as its vegetation absorbs greenhouse gases. The previous year, 2024, saw widespread fires exacerbated by drought and illicit practices like deforestation linked to illegal mining.