Brazil reports sharp drop in Amazon loss
Brazil sees record fall in Amazon deforestation as key election looms
Saturday, 17 October 2026
Photo by Nathalia Segato on Unsplash
Warm-up
- What do you know about the Amazon rainforest?
- How can governments protect nature in your country?
- Do you follow election news? Why or why not?
Vocabulary
- deforestation
- the cutting down or clearing of forest trees
- rainforest
- a thick forest in a hot, wet area
- satellite
- a machine in space that takes pictures or sends data
- election
- when people vote to choose leaders
- policy
- a plan of action used by a government or leader
- pledge
- a serious promise to do something
- illegal
- not allowed by law
- monitor
- to watch and check something over time
Reading
Listen to this story
British EnglishBrazil says deforestation has fallen to record lows in the Amazon rainforest and in the Cerrado. In the year to July 2026, satellite data shows a 41.8% fall in the Amazon, the biggest drop since records began in 1988. The fall in the Cerrado was 23.8%. The Amazon is the world's largest rainforest, and about 60% of it lies in Brazil. It helps to slow climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide.
The news comes before a presidential election run-off on 25 October. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pledged to end deforestation in the Amazon by 2030. He tightened environmental monitoring and raised penalties for illegal logging.
Deforestation had grown under former president Jair Bolsonaro, who promoted mining on indigenous lands and cut resources to protect the forest. Polls suggest a close race between Lula and Bolsonaro's son Flavio, who is expected to continue his father's policies.
Comprehension
- How much did Amazon deforestation fall in the year to July 2026?
- When is the presidential run-off in Brazil?
- What goal did Lula pledge for the Amazon by 2030?
- Under which former president did deforestation grow?
- Who is Lula's opponent, and what is he expected to continue?
Grammar focus
Subject & object questions
Subject questions ask about the doer: no do/does/did. Object questions ask about the receiver: use do/does/did before the subject. (Examples constructed.)
- Who tightened environmental monitoring?
- What did polls suggest about the race?
Grammar exercise
Circle the correct option in each sentence.
- Who (raised penalties / did raise penalties)?
- What (did agencies monitor / agencies did monitor) this year?
- Which biome (did see record lows / saw record lows)?
- Who (did promote mining / promoted mining) on indigenous lands?
- What (did polls suggest / polls did suggest) about the race?
Discussion
- Why do you think deforestation fell so much this year?
- Should elections focus more on the environment? Why or why not?
- What simple actions can protect forests in your country?
- Who should pay to protect the Amazon: Brazil or the world? Why?
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