SAO PAULO, July 6 (Reuters) - Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon fell 34% in the first half of 2023, preliminary government data showed on Thursday, hitting its lowest level in four years as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva institutes tougher environmental policies.
But that's an area more than three times the size of New York City, underscoring the challenge Lula faces to eliminate deforestation entirely.
"It's very positive, but we continue to have very high levels of deforestation," said Daniel Silva, an analyst at nonprofit WWF-Brasil.
An aerial view shows a deforested area during an operation to combat deforestation near Uruara, Para State, Brazil January 21, 2023.
In June alone, Inpe satellite data showed deforestation totaled 663 sq km, down 41% from the same month a year ago.
Persons:
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Inpe, Lula, Daniel Silva, Jair Bolsonaro, Ueslei Marcelino, Marina Silva, Silva, Joao Paulo Capobianco, Carolina Pulice, Jake Spring, Gabriel Araujo, Sandra Maler
Organizations:
SAO PAULO, WWF, Brasil, REUTERS, Environment Ministry, Thomson
Locations:
New York City, Uruara, Para State, Brazil