Lula’s commitment to return to the policies that have reduced forest loss is crucial, as Brazil is not only home to a large part of the Amazon rainforest, but is also one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. When Bolsonaro took office in 2019 he cut funding for environmental protection agencies, made environmental fines easier to ignore and encouraged his supporters to pursue illegal mining. Deforestation rates have started to soar again. Brazil has lost more than 12,000 square miles of Amazon jungle between 2019 and 2021. If deforestation continues, the jungle could soon become a net emitter of greenhouse gases.
