Amazon deforestation spikes as Brazil blames criminal fires

• A new and alarming pattern of destruction is emerging in the rainforest, challenging Brazilian authorities ahead of COP30.
• After plunging in 2023 and 2024, deforestation in the Amazon surged 92% in May and is up 27% in 2025, half of it in recently burned land — an all-time high.
• The biome’s increased susceptibility to fire makes it a more attractive and less risky method for criminals seeking illegal deforestation, according to experts.
• This dramatic increase in forest loss presents a major challenge for Brazil’s government, which aims to lead conservation talks, ahead of COP30, in November.

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