Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest facts for kids

Deforestation in Bolivia, in June 2014

Deforestation in the Maranhão state, Brazil, in July 2016

The Amazon rainforest is the world's largest rainforest. It covers a huge area of about 3,000,000 square kilometers (1,200,000 sq mi). This amazing forest has the most different kinds of plants and animals (it's very biodiverse). It's more than half of all the rainforests on Earth!

The Amazon region spreads across nine countries. Most of it (60%) is in Brazil. Then comes Peru (13%) and Colombia (10%). Smaller parts are in Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia (6%), Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.

A big part of the Amazon rainforest, over one-third, is special land for indigenous people. There are more than 3,344 of these areas. For a long time, indigenous people have used the forest for food, homes, water, and medicines. The forest is also very important to their culture and beliefs. Even with outside pressures, these areas have less deforestation. This is because giving legal land rights to indigenous groups has helped reduce forest loss by 75% in Peru.

By 2022, about 26% of the Amazon forest was either gone or badly damaged. Experts say that 300,000 square miles of forest have been lost.

The main reason for cutting down trees in the Brazilian Amazon is raising cattle. This causes about 80% of all deforestation there. It's the biggest single reason for forest loss in the world. It adds to about 14% of global deforestation each year. The government has even helped pay for some farming that leads to forest clearing. By 1995, 70% of the Amazon's former forest land was used for cattle. Other reasons for deforestation include small farms and growing crops like soy and palm. In 2011, soy farming caused about 15% of Amazon deforestation.

Satellite pictures from 2018 showed that deforestation was at its highest in a decade. About 7,900 square kilometers (3,100 sq mi) were destroyed between August 2017 and July 2018. The states of Mato Grosso and Pará lost the most forest. The Brazilian environment minister said illegal logging was a cause. Others pointed to farming expanding into the rainforest. Scientists worry the forest might reach a point where it can't make enough rain to survive. In the first 9 months of 2023, deforestation dropped by 49.5%. This was thanks to new policies from Lula's government and help from other countries.

History of Amazon Deforestation

In the past, before Europeans arrived, some parts of the Amazon were home to many people and farms. But when Europeans came in the 1500s, many people died from diseases or were forced into slavery. This caused the forest to grow back.

Until the 1970s, it was hard to get into the deep parts of the forest because there were no roads. So, most of it stayed untouched, except for areas along rivers. But deforestation grew fast after highways were built deep into the forest. A big one was the Trans-Amazonian Highway in 1972.

Farmers faced problems in parts of the Amazon where the soil was poor. It was hard to make money from big farms there. A key moment for deforestation happened in the 1960s when new settlers started farms in the forest. They used a method called slash-and-burn. But the soil quickly lost its goodness, and weeds took over. This made it hard for them to grow crops.

In the Peruvian Amazon, areas like the Urarina's Chambira River basin have poor soil. This means indigenous farmers often have to clear new land. Raising cattle became popular because it needed less work and made good money. It also used land owned by the government. Some people said that giving private ownership of land would help the forest grow back. But critics worried it would lead to more deforestation and ignore the rights of Peru's indigenous people, who often don't have official land titles. A law about this, Law 840, was stopped because it was against the rules.

Illegal deforestation in the Amazon went up in 2015 after years of going down. This was mainly because people wanted products like palm oil. Brazilian farmers clear land to grow more palm oil and soy. Cutting down trees releases a lot of carbon into the air. If this continues, the world's remaining forests could disappear in 100 years. The Brazilian government started a program called RED (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation). It helps other countries with education and money to fight deforestation.

In January 2019, Brazil's president, Jair Bolsonaro, made a rule that gave the agriculture ministry control over some Amazon lands. Cattle ranchers and mining companies liked this. But critics said it put indigenous people in danger and made Brazil contribute more to global climate change.

Reports from 2021 showed that deforestation increased by 22% from the year before. This was the highest level since 2006.

Why is the Amazon Rainforest Being Cut Down?

Drivers of forest loss in the Brazilian Amazon. The expansion of agricultural land to raise cattle is by far the most important driver.

Deforestation in Colombia

One consequence of forest clearing in the Amazon: thick smoke that hangs over the forest

Illegal gold mining in the Amazon in Madre de Dios, Peru, 2019

Many things cause the Amazon rainforest to be cut down. These reasons come from local areas, within Brazil, and from other countries. People want the rainforest land for cattle farms, valuable wood, and places to live and grow crops like soybeans. Roads, including big highways and smaller paths, also lead to forest clearing. Sometimes, people also look for medicinal plants. It's also important to know that illegal logging is a common way trees are removed.

Cattle Ranching: A Big Problem

Raising cattle in the Brazilian Amazon is the main reason for deforestation. Reports from 2004 and 2009 say it causes about 80% of the forest loss there. This is because of the global demand for beef and leather. It makes cattle ranching the biggest reason for deforestation worldwide. It adds about 14% to the total annual deforestation. In 2006, the United Nations reported that 70% of the Amazon's former forest land is now used for cattle.

A trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur in 2019 has worried environmental groups. They think it will lead to even more deforestation. This is because it makes it easier to sell Brazilian beef.

During Jair Bolsonaro's time as president, some environmental rules became weaker. Also, money and staff for important government agencies were cut. Deforestation in the Amazon sped up during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) said that deforestation went up by over 50% in the first three months of 2020 compared to 2019.

In October 2024, Brazil's environmental agency fined cattle farms and meat companies, including JBS SA. They were fined for being involved in illegal deforestation. These companies were accused of raising or buying cattle from land that was cleared without permission.

Soybean Farming: Growing Crops, Losing Forests

Farmers clearing land to grow crops with machines has also caused deforestation. A study using NASA satellite data in 2006 showed this was a big reason for forest loss in the Brazilian Amazon. This change in land use has even affected the local climate. Researchers found that in 2004, a year with a lot of deforestation, over 20% of the forests in Mato Grosso state were turned into cropland.

Growing soybeans, mostly for export and to make biodiesel and animal feed, has been a major cause of forest loss. As soybean prices went up, soy farmers expanded into forest areas. However, a special agreement called the Soy Moratorium has greatly helped reduce deforestation from soy. In 2006, big trading companies promised not to buy soybeans grown in recently deforested areas of the Brazilian Amazon. Before this, 30% of new soy farms were linked to deforestation. After eight years, a 2015 study found that only about 1% of new soy farms were on land that used to be forest. Farmers chose to plant on land that was already cleared.

The need for soy farms has been used to justify building controversial roads in the Amazon. The Belém-Brasília highway (1958) and the Cuiabá-Porto Velho highway (1968) were the only paved federal highways in the Legal Amazon before the late 1990s. These two roads are in the "arc of deforestation," where most forest loss happens. The Belém-Brasília highway brought almost two million settlers in its first twenty years. The success of this road in opening up the forest led to more paved roads and a huge wave of new settlers. These settlers also had a big impact on the forest.

Deforestation for cattle production in Venezuela, 2015.

Logging: Cutting Down Trees

Logging means cutting down trees for money, mainly for wood. This adds to the overall deforestation of an area. Deforestation is when forests are permanently removed. This often harms the environment, people, and the economy.

Here's how logging usually works:

• Choosing Trees: Loggers pick specific trees to cut based on their type, size, and how much they are worth. Valuable trees often include mahogany and oak.
• Building Roads: Loggers build roads and paths in the forest to reach the trees. These roads help move heavy machines and cut wood.
• Clearing Plants: Before cutting, loggers often clear smaller plants and trees around the main trees. This makes it easier for machines to work.
• Felling Trees: The chosen trees are cut down using chainsaws or other machines.
• Taking Out Wood: After trees are cut, loggers remove branches and cut the trunks into logs.
• Moving Logs: The logs are then taken from the forest to places where they will be processed. Trucks, boats, or helicopters are used.
• Processing Wood: At these places, logs are turned into lumber, plywood, or other wood products. These are used for building, furniture, or paper.

Logging has big and widespread impacts on deforestation:

• Loss of Animals and Plants: Logging often destroys forest homes, leading to fewer plant and animal species. This can cause some species to become endangered or disappear.
• Carbon Emissions and Climate Change: Trees help fight climate change by taking in carbon dioxide. When trees are cut, the carbon they stored goes back into the air. This adds to greenhouse gases and climate change.
• Soil Erosion: Forests protect the soil from wind and water. When trees are removed, the soil is exposed and can wash away easily. This makes the land less fertile.
• Water Cycle Problems: Forests help control water flow and keep water clean. Cutting them down can lead to less water, changed rainfall, and more floods or droughts.
• Impact on Indigenous People: Many indigenous groups depend on forests for their lives and culture. Logging can force these communities to move and cause problems.
• Economic Issues: While logging can create jobs and money, cutting down too many trees can use up forest resources. This can hurt future income.

To help with logging's effects, people are trying to manage forests sustainably. They are also planting new trees, protecting areas, and making rules.

A study in 2013 found that logging in the Amazon led to less rain in the area. This meant less crops could be grown. This suggests that, overall, cutting down trees and using the land for cattle doesn't help Brazil's economy.

Oil and Gas: Digging for Fuel

Oil and gas projects in the western Amazon are a major cause of deforestation. They also cause water pollution and force indigenous people to move. There aren't enough strong rules to protect these areas, which makes them easy to exploit. This harms the Amazon's plants and animals and local communities. A 2016 report said that the US importing oil is linked to about 50,000 square kilometers (20,000 sq mi) of rainforest destruction. It also causes a lot of greenhouse gas emissions. These problems are mostly in Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia. The report also said that oil companies are looking for oil in another 250,000 square kilometers (100,000 sq mi) of rainforest.

Roads: Opening Up the Forest

About 95% of deforestation in the Amazon happens within 3.4 miles of a road. Forest clearing always starts near new roads and then spreads out. In December 2023, Brazil's Congress approved a plan to pave the BR-319 (Brazil highway) again. This could put the rainforest in danger. The bill says the road is "critical infrastructure" needed for national security.

Mining: Digging for Minerals

Mining is a big reason for cutting down the Amazon rainforest. From 2005 to 2015, it caused 9% of deforestation. More mining means more forest loss. This leads to environmental problems like droughts, wildfires, floods, and damage to the local climate.

Climate Change: Making Things Worse

Climate change greatly increases the chance of droughts in the Amazon. These droughts hurt the forest badly. In 2023, the Brazilian Amazon had huge droughts that made rivers very low. Scientists found that climate change and higher global temperatures are the main reasons for the lack of rain and droughts in the region.

Other Reasons for Forest Loss

In August 2019, a long forest fire happened in the Amazon. It added a lot to deforestation that summer. About 1,340 square kilometers (519 sq mi) of the Amazon forest were lost. Sometimes, farmers clear land for small farms to grow food for themselves. This also causes some deforestation.

How Much Forest is Being Lost?

Brazil, home to much of the Amazon, loses far more old-growth forest than other countries.

Overall, 20% of the Amazon rainforest has been "transformed" (deforested) and another 6% has been "highly degraded". Experts warn the Amazon is close to a "tipping point."

In the early 2000s, deforestation in the Amazon went up. In 2004, about 27,423 square kilometers (10,588 sq mi) of forest were lost. After that, the rate of forest loss generally slowed down between 2004 and 2012. However, there were times when it went up, like in 2008, 2013, and 2015.

But recent information shows that forest loss is speeding up again. Between August 2017 and July 2018, about 7,900 square kilometers (3,100 sq mi) of forest were cut down in Brazil. This was a 13.7% increase from the year before and the largest area cleared since 2008. Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon went up a lot in June 2019, rising over 88% compared to June 2018. It more than doubled in January 2020 compared to January 2019.

In August 2019, there were many forest fires, 30,901 in total. This was three times more than the year before. But the number of fires went down by one-third in September. By October 7, it was about 10,000. It's important to know that cutting down trees is considered worse than burning them. Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) estimated that at least 7,747 square kilometers (2,991 sq mi) of the Brazilian Amazon were cleared in the first half of 2019. INPE later reported that deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon reached its highest level in 12 years between August 2019 and July 2020.

Brazil's INPE provides yearly deforestation numbers. They use satellite images taken during the dry season by the Landsat satellite. These numbers usually focus only on the Amazon rainforest. They might not include natural fields or savannah areas within the Amazon biome.

Estimated Forest Loss Each Year

^†Value calculated from estimated forest loss, not directly known.

What Happens When the Amazon is Cut Down?

Amazon rainforest fire in Brazil's indigenous territory in 2017

Cutting down the Amazon rainforest and losing its biodiversity creates a big risk of changes that can't be undone. Studies suggest that deforestation might be reaching a "tipping point." This is where large parts of the forest could turn into dry grasslands (savannization) or even deserts. This would have terrible effects on the global climate. This tipping point could cause a chain reaction, leading to the collapse of plants, animals, and natural systems (ecosystems) in the region. If we don't stop this, it will hurt the economy, natural resources, and important services that nature provides. A study in 2022 showed that over three-quarters of the Amazon rainforest has become less able to recover since the early 2000s. This puts it at risk of dying back, which would affect biodiversity, carbon storage, and climate change.

To keep many different kinds of plants and animals alive, scientists say that at least 40% of the Amazon forest should remain.

Impact on Global Warming: A Warming Planet

Climate change disturbances of rainforests.

Cutting down forests, along with other damage to nature like to peatbogs, can have many effects. It can make the land less able to soak up carbon. It also adds to more pollution from things like wildfires and changes in how land is used. These problems can mess up how nature usually takes in carbon, causing stress and imbalance.

For a long time, the Amazon Basin was a big "carbon sink." This means it absorbed about 25% of the carbon taken in by land around the world.

However, a scientific report in 2021 said that the Amazon Basin is now releasing more greenhouse gases than it absorbs. This change is due to climate change and human actions, especially wildfires and current land use. These factors release things that likely cause more warming. Warmer temperatures and changing weather also affect the forest, making it harder for it to absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂).

According to research, if the Amazon were completely deforested, global temperatures would rise by 0.25 degrees Celsius. In 2023, even with deforestation, the forest still held over 150 billion metric tons of carbon.

Impacts on Water Supply: Less Rain, Less Water

Cutting down the Amazon rainforest has greatly affected Brazil's freshwater supply. This especially hurts the farming industry, which has been involved in clearing forests. In 2005, some parts of the Amazon had the worst drought in over a century. This happened for two main reasons:

• The rainforest is very important for creating rainfall across Brazil, even in faraway areas. Deforestation made the droughts in 2005, 2010, and 2015–2016 worse.
• The rainforest helps create rain and store water. This water then flows into rivers that supply Brazil and other countries with fresh water.

Impact on Local Temperature: Getting Hotter

In 2019, scientists found that if deforestation continues as it is, the Amazon rainforest will cause Brazil's temperature to rise by 1.45 degrees Celsius. They said this temperature rise could lead to more deaths, higher electricity demands, less farm output, and less water. It could also cause the collapse of biodiversity, especially in tropical areas. Also, local warming might make animals and plants move to new places. This includes those that spread infectious diseases. The scientists believe that deforestation is already causing the temperature to rise.

Another study suggests that if the Amazon were completely deforested, the region itself (a huge area covering 7 million square kilometers across 9 Brazilian states and 8 other countries) would become almost impossible to live in. Temperatures would rise by over 4.5 degrees Celsius, and rainfall would drop by a quarter.

Impact on Indigenous People: Losing Homes and Culture

Members of an uncontacted tribe encountered in the Brazilian state of Acre in 2009

More than one-third of the Amazon forest is special land for indigenous people. There are over 4,466 officially recognized areas. Until 2015, about 8% of deforestation in the Amazon happened in forests where indigenous people lived. But 88% happened outside these indigenous lands and protected areas. Indigenous communities have always relied on the forest for food, homes, water, and medicines. The forest is also very important to their culture and beliefs. Because of this, deforestation rates are usually lower in Indigenous Territories, even though there's pressure to clear land.

During the deforestation of the Amazon, native tribes have often been treated badly. Loggers entering indigenous lands have led to fights where people have died. Some uncontacted indigenous groups have come out of the forests and met outsiders because of threats. When uncontacted tribes meet outsiders, they can get sick from diseases they have no protection against. This can cause whole tribes to suffer greatly and their populations to drop quickly.

There has been a long struggle over who controls indigenous lands in the Amazon, mainly with the Brazilian government. People want these lands partly to help Brazil's economy. Ranchers and land buyers have also tried to claim these lands for money. In early 2019, Brazil's new president, Jair Bolsonaro, made a rule that gave the agriculture ministry power over land used by indigenous tribes in the Amazon.

In the past, mining was allowed in the land of an isolated indigenous group called the Yanomami. The conditions these people faced led to many health problems, including tuberculosis. If their lands are used for more development, many tribal communities will be forced to move. This could lead to loss of life. Besides the mistreatment of indigenous people, destroying the forest itself will mean losing important resources they need every day.

Research in the Peruvian Amazon shows that giving indigenous groups legal ownership of their land greatly reduces deforestation. Land titling led to a 75% drop in deforestation over two years. These policies give indigenous communities the legal power to protect their land. This is a strong way to fight deforestation in the Amazon.

Between 2013 and 2021, deforestation in indigenous territories in the Brazilian Amazon went up by 129%. This was mainly due to illegal mining. This mining harms plants and animals and the culture of these lands. Because environmental rules became weaker in Brazil in the late 2010s, deforestation in indigenous territories was 195% higher between 2019 and 2021 than in the six years before. Also, 59% of the carbon released in indigenous territories between 2013 and 2021 happened in the last three years of the study.

The Yanomami people in Brazil have faced big problems because of illegal gold mining on their lands. Mining has caused deforestation, water pollution, and more cases of malaria among the Yanomami. President Lula's government has taken steps to help, including trying to get back and protect Yanomami lands. In 2012, the Yanomami group HORONAMI said, “Illegal miners keep destroying our lands. The government must act fast to stop these abuses and check the harm being done.” In 2020, a report quoted Yanomami leaders saying they felt "abandoned" and that the government ignored illegal activities that poisoned their rivers and brought disease.

Dario Kopenawa, a leader of the Hutukara Yanomami Association, has stressed that the government must help. He said, “The Brazilian government must do its job to protect every Brazilian citizen, not just the Yanomami. It's not a favor, but a rule. It's necessary to stop mining projects on indigenous lands because they are illegal under Brazilian law.”

Recent government actions against illegal gold mining in Yanomami Indigenous Territory have shown how much deforestation it causes. Using special computer programs and satellite pictures, researchers guess that over 2,000 hectares of forest have been cut down because of gold mining since 2019. About 67% of this (1,350 hectares) happened in 2022 alone. This deforestation is spread out along the Uraricoera, Parima, and Mucajai Rivers.

Efforts to Stop and Reverse Deforestation

On September 16, 2008, Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg announced that Norway would give US$1 billion to the new Amazon Fund. This money would be used for projects to reduce deforestation in the Amazon.

In September 2015, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff told the United Nations that Brazil had cut its deforestation rate in the Amazon by 82%. She also shared Brazil's goals for the next 15 years. These included stopping all illegal deforestation, bringing back and replanting 120,000 square kilometers (46,000 sq mi) of forest, and fixing 150,000 square kilometers (58,000 sq mi) of damaged pastures.

In August 2017, Brazilian President Michel Temer removed the protected status of an Amazon nature reserve. This area was as big as Denmark and was in the northern states of Pará and Amapá.

In April 2019, a court in Ecuador ordered a stop to oil exploration in a 1,800 square kilometer (690 sq mi) area of the Amazon rainforest.

In May 2019, eight former environment ministers in Brazil worried about increasing deforestation in the Amazon during Jair Bolsonaro's first year as president. Carlos Nobre, an expert on the Amazon, warned in September 2019 that if deforestation continued at its pace, the Amazon forest could reach a tipping point in 20 to 30 years. This could turn large parts of the forest into dry grasslands.

Bolsonaro has told European politicians not to interfere with Amazon deforestation, saying it's Brazil's own business. He has supported opening more areas, including in the Amazon, for mining. He also mentioned talking with US President Donald Trump about a joint plan for the Brazilian Amazon.

Brazil promised to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030.

Brazilian Economy Minister Paulo Guedes believes other countries should pay Brazil for the oxygen produced within its borders.

In late August 2019, after many countries worried about the fires, the Brazilian government, led by Jair Bolsonaro, took action. They banned forest clearing by fire for 60 days. They sent 44,000 soldiers to fight fires. They also got four planes from Chile for firefighting and accepted $12 million in aid from the UK government. Bolsonaro also called for a meeting of Latin American countries to talk about saving the Amazon.

On November 2, 2021, at the COP26 climate summit, over 100 countries agreed to stop deforestation by 2030. This was a big step forward from a 2014 agreement. Brazil also signed this new agreement. It's worth noting that deforestation actually increased between 2014 and 2020 despite the earlier agreement.

In August 2023, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva hosted a meeting in Belem with eight South American countries. They met to plan how to protect the Amazon basin and create a roadmap to save the world's largest rainforest. This meeting also prepared for the COP30 UN climate talks in 2025.

In the first 8 months of 2023, deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon dropped by 48%. This stopped 196 million tons of CO2 from going into the air. Money from the Amazon Fund and teamwork among Amazonian nations helped a lot. In the first 9 months of 2023, deforestation dropped by 49.5%, even with the worst drought in 40 years. Wildfires in September 2023 went down by 36% compared to September 2022. Switzerland and the United States gave $8.4 million to the Amazon fund to help prevent deforestation.

According to a forest monitoring program, the deforestation rate in the Amazon rainforest as a whole dropped by 55.8% from January 1 to November 8, 2023, compared to the same time in 2022. This gives hope for the Amazon. The big drop in deforestation in Brazil (59%) is likely due to Lula's environmental policies. In Colombia, deforestation fell by 66.5%, probably because of Gustavo Petro's policies and changes by former guerrilla fighters who control parts of the forest. It's not yet clear what caused the drop in Bolivia (60%) and Peru (37%). Bolivia has a lot of forest loss from wildfires, but those are not happening in the Amazon.

In September 2024, Sawré Muybu, an indigenous land belonging to the Munduruku people, was officially recognized. This is seen as a big step in fighting deforestation. However, 44 more territories are still waiting for recognition.

Cost of Saving the Rainforest

In 2008, experts thought that stopping deforestation in the Brazilian rainforest would cost US$100–600 million each year. A newer study in 2022 suggested that saving about 80% of the Brazilian rainforest is still possible. It would cost an estimated US$1.7–2.8 billion per year to protect 3.5 million square kilometers. By stopping deforestation, we could avoid carbon emissions at a cost of US$1.33 per ton of CO₂. This is much cheaper than reducing emissions through other ways, like renewable fuel subsidies (US$100 per ton) or home insulation programs (US$350/ton).

Future of the Amazon Rainforest

Based on how much forest was being cut down in 2005, experts thought the Amazon rainforest would shrink by 40% within 20 years. While the rate of deforestation has slowed since the early 2000s, the forest still gets smaller every year. Satellite data shows a big increase in deforestation since 2018.

See also

In Spanish: Deforestación en el Amazonas para niños

• 2019 Brazil wildfires
• Belo Monte Dam
• Cattle ranching
• Clearcutting
• Construction of the Trans-Amazonian Highway
• Deforestation
• Deforestation in Brazil
• Flying river
• Livestock's Long Shadow
• Logging
• IBAMA
• INCRA
• Population and energy consumption in Brazilian Amazonia
• Risks of using unsustainable agricultural practices in rainforests
• Selective logging in the Amazon rainforest
• Terra preta
• Non-timber forest products
• Orinoco Mining Arc

Fauna

• Panthera onca onca
• Peruvian jaguar
• Southern jaguar