Brazil's government has reported a record annual drop in Amazon rainforest deforestation, reversing an increase recorded under former president Jair Bolsonaro. Officials point to tighter monitoring and enforcement as the main drivers behind the decline. The figures arrive weeks before a closely contested presidential election.

New government monitoring data shows that tree loss across the Amazon rainforest fell to its lowest annual level on record, a sharp reversal from the increase seen during former president Jair Bolsonaro's time in office. The forest is widely regarded as a crucial buffer against global climate change, and rising deforestation under his administration drew sustained criticism from environmental groups and trading partners abroad.

Officials credit expanded satellite monitoring and stricter enforcement against illegal logging for driving the improvement. Environmental groups welcomed the figures but cautioned that the trend needs to hold over several years before it can be considered a lasting shift rather than a temporary dip.

The announcement comes weeks before a tightly contested presidential election in which forest policy has become a campaign flashpoint. Analysts say the improved figures could also strengthen Brazil's position in ongoing trade talks with the European Union, where deforestation commitments remain a sticking point.