Repost from nowthisearth • Preliminary data released Friday by Brazil’s INPE found that deforestation in the Amazon dropped by 68% in April 2023 compared to April 2022. The drop comes after 2 months of higher deforestation in February and March, but year over year, deforestation is still down 40% overall. Many are giving some of the credit to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, as he began reinstating policies to protect the Amazon and Indigenous rights after taking office. Previous President Jair Bolsonaro weakened them, and deforestation reached its highest level in 15 years under his administration. Deforestation typically picks up in the summer months, and Reuters reported that experts are holding off on announcing downward trends for this year until more data are available. #brazil #amazon #deforestation #climatenews