Deforestation of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Fell by 14% in 2024
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May 12, 2025 Hour: 10:53 am
Logging in mature forest areas, which are critical for biodiversity and carbon storage, dropped only 2%
On Monday, the NGO SOS Mata Atlântica released data showing that deforestation in the Atlantic Forest—Brazil’s most threatened biome—fell by 14% in 2024. However, logging in mature forest areas, which are critical for biodiversity and carbon storage, dropped only 2%.
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A total of 14,366 hectares of mature forest—native areas of the biome that have remained intact for over 50 years with dense vegetation and no signs of degradation—were deforested last year.
This level of deforestation represents the emission of approximately 6.87 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent, comparable to the annual emissions of Cameroon or the city of Brasilia. Currently, only 24% of the original Atlantic Forest remains, and just 12% of that consists of mature forest.
The reduction recorded last year “is modest” compared to what is needed, which is “zero deforestation,” especially in these types of forests that “are irreplaceable in terms of biodiversity and climate regulation,” said SOS Mata Atlântica Director Luis Fernando Guedes Pinto.
Deforestation still poses a “major threat” to the future of the Atlantic Forest and the populations that live within it, especially due to the expansion of agriculture and livestock farming.
“We are cutting down forests to increase areas for pasture, forestry, and agriculture. Another major pressure comes from urban expansion and real estate speculation around large cities, coastal areas, and tourist zones,” he said, adding that such actions put at risk the ecosystem services the biome provides to the population and the Brazilian economy.
The Atlantic Forest covers about 15% of Brazil’s territory, mainly along the coast. It is home to 72% of the population and accounts for 80% of the country’s GDP. Essential services and activities depend on this biome, including water supply, climate regulation, agriculture, fishing, electricity generation, and tourism.
The states of Piaui and Bahia led the country in deforestation rates, with 26,030 and 23,218 hectares lost, respectively. Parana reduced deforestation of mature forests by 64%. In Rio Grande do Sul, “extreme weather events” were responsible for the destruction of 3,307 hectares of vegetation within the biome.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE