According to monitoring data from the Brazilian non-profit research institution Imazon, deforestation and degradation in the Amazon rainforest showed an upward trend from August 2024 to March 2025, with a 17.8% increase in deforested areas and a staggering 329% surge in forest degradation, reaching historically high levels. This data covers the first eight months of the Amazon biome's rainy season cycle, highlighting the urgent challenges faced by the region's ecological environment.

As per sources, the deforested area in the Amazon rainforest increased from 1,948 square kilometers from August 2023 to March 2024 to 2,296 square kilometers from August 2024 to March 2025. In March of this year, deforestation within the Amazon legal area reached 167 square kilometers, a 35% increase from 124 square kilometers in March 2024, marking the first rise in deforestation in the region after three consecutive years of decline.

Imazon researcher Lalisza pointed out that the growth trend in 2025 serves as a warning. The current period is characterized by frequent rainfall in the Amazon region, resulting in lower levels of forest disturbance compared to the dry season. It is crucial to seize this critical time window and implement effective measures to reverse the situation.

The major increase in forest degradation from September to October 2024 was primarily due to large-scale wildfires. From August 2024 to March 2025, the forest degradation area in the Amazon reached its highest recorded level. However, the forest degradation area in March 2025 decreased by 90% compared to the same period last year, dropping from 2,120 square kilometers in 2024 to 206 square kilometers in 2025.

While government data indicates a slight easing of deforestation and degradation, Imazon's monitoring results reveal a more severe reality. Lalisza emphasizes that if small-scale forest destruction is not promptly contained, it will gradually accumulate and have irreversible impacts on the ecosystem.

The Amazon rainforest is crucial for maintaining the Earth's ecological balance as the world's largest tropical rainforest. Faced with a serious situation, experts are urging governments, social organizations, and businesses to take urgent action to enhance the protection and management of the Amazon rainforest. This includes strict enforcement of environmental regulations, promoting sustainable development practices, and increasing investment in ecosystem restoration to ensure the future of the Amazon rainforest and safeguard global ecological security.