This page collects deforestation alert data published by Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and Imazon, a Brazilian NGO. INPE’s system is called DETER for Sistema de Detecção do Desmatamento na Amazônia Legal em Tempo Real, while Imazon’s system is called SAD for Sistema de Alerta de Deforestation.
As explained here, month-to-month deforestation is highly variable. Short-term, alert-based deforestation detection systems do not penetrate cloud cover, so during the rainy season — from roughly November to April — estimates are notoriously unreliable when compared to the same month a year earlier. Furthermore, most forest clearing in the Amazon occurs when it is dry. So if the dry season is early, deforestation may increase earlier than normal. For these reasons, the most accurate deforestation comparisons are made year-on-year. For Brazil, the deforestation “year” ends July 31: the peak of the dry season when the largest extent of forest is typically visible via satellite.
Short-term data isn’t useless though — it can provide insights on trends, especially over longer periods of time. Generally, comparing 12 consecutive months of alert data will provide a pretty good indication of deforestation relative to other years. Therefore the charts below include monthly data as well as the 12-month moving average (Trailing Twelve Months = “TTM”).
Last update: 2024-Feb-17
Table: Monthly deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon
Month | DETER | DETER TTM | SAD | SAD TTM |
---|---|---|---|---|
Apr 2008 | 1,124 | 156 | ||
May 2008 | 1,096 | 9,190 | 294 | 5,603 |
Jun 2008 | 871 | 9,064 | 612 | 5,716 |
Jul 2008 | 324 | 8,536 | 276 | 5,031 |
Aug 2008 | 757 | 7,835 | 102 | 4,470 |
Sep 2008 | 587 | 8,400 | 321 | 3,679 |
Oct 2008 | 541 | 8,457 | 102 | 3,257 |
Nov 2008 | 355 | 8,554 | 61 | 2,251 |
Dec 2008 | 177 | 8,013 | 50 | 2,233 |
Jan 2009 | 222 | 7,342 | 51 | 2,202 |
Feb 2009 | 143 | 6,925 | 62 | 2,201 |
Mar 2009 | 18 | 6,343 | 57 | 2,144 |
Apr 2009 | 37 | 6,214 | 121 | 2,109 |
May 2009 | 124 | 5,127 | 157 | 1,972 |
Jun 2009 | 578 | 4,155 | 150 | 1,510 |
Jul 2009 | 836 | 3,862 | 532 | 1,766 |
Aug 2009 | 498 | 4,375 | 273 | 1,937 |
Sep 2009 | 400 | 4,116 | 216 | 1,832 |
Oct 2009 | 176 | 3,929 | 194 | 1,924 |
Nov 2009 | 72 | 3,564 | 74 | 1,937 |
Dec 2009 | 3,281 | 16 | 1,903 | |
Jan 2010 | 23 | 3,104 | 63 | 1,915 |
Feb 2010 | 185 | 2,905 | 88 | 1,941 |
Mar 2010 | 52 | 2,947 | 76 | 1,960 |
Apr 2010 | 52 | 2,981 | 65 | 1,904 |
May 2010 | 110 | 2,996 | 96 | 1,843 |
Jun 2010 | 244 | 2,982 | 172 | 1,865 |
Jul 2010 | 485 | 2,647 | 155 | 1,488 |
Aug 2010 | 265 | 2,296 | 210 | 1,425 |
Sep 2010 | 448 | 2,063 | 170 | 1,379 |
Oct 2010 | 389 | 2,111 | 153 | 1,338 |
Nov 2010 | 121 | 2,324 | 65 | 1,329 |
Dec 2010 | 21 | 2,372 | 175 | 1,488 |
Jan 2011 | 36 | 2,394 | 83 | 1,508 |
Feb 2011 | 1 | 2,407 | 63 | 1,483 |
Mar 2011 | 116 | 2,223 | 46 | 1,453 |
Apr 2011 | 477 | 2,287 | 298 | 1,686 |
May 2011 | 268 | 2,712 | 165 | 1,755 |
Jun 2011 | 313 | 2,871 | 99 | 1,682 |
Jul 2011 | 225 | 2,940 | 93 | 1,620 |
Aug 2011 | 163 | 2,680 | 240 | 1,650 |
Sep 2011 | 254 | 2,578 | 170 | 1,650 |
Oct 2011 | 386 | 2,384 | 102 | 1,599 |
Nov 2011 | 133 | 2,381 | 16 | 1,550 |
Dec 2011 | 75 | 2,393 | 40 | 1,415 |
Jan 2012 | 22 | 2,446 | 33 | 1,365 |
Feb 2012 | 307 | 2,432 | 107 | 1,409 |
Mar 2012 | 60 | 2,737 | 53 | 1,416 |
Apr 2012 | 233 | 2,681 | 71 | 1,189 |
May 2012 | 99 | 2,437 | 43 | 1,067 |
Jun 2012 | 108 | 2,268 | 35 | 1,003 |
Jul 2012 | 214 | 2,062 | 140 | 1,050 |
Aug 2012 | 522 | 2,051 | 232 | 1,042 |
Sep 2012 | 283 | 2,410 | 431 | 1,303 |
Oct 2012 | 277 | 2,439 | 487 | 1,688 |
Nov 2012 | 205 | 2,331 | 55 | 1,727 |
Dec 2012 | 131 | 2,403 | 82 | 1,769 |
Jan 2013 | 9 | 2,459 | 35 | 1,771 |
Feb 2013 | 270 | 2,447 | 45 | 1,709 |
Mar 2013 | 28 | 2,410 | 80 | 1,736 |
Apr 2013 | 147 | 2,378 | 140 | 1,805 |
May 2013 | 465 | 2,293 | 84 | 1,846 |
Jun 2013 | 210 | 2,659 | 184 | 1,995 |
Jul 2013 | 217 | 2,762 | 152 | 2,007 |
Aug 2013 | 289 | 2,766 | 185 | 1,960 |
Sep 2013 | 443 | 2,532 | 103 | 1,632 |
Oct 2013 | 155 | 2,692 | 43 | 1,188 |
Nov 2013 | 108 | 2,569 | 37 | 1,170 |
Dec 2013 | 93 | 2,472 | 56 | 1,144 |
Jan 2014 | 75 | 2,434 | 107 | 1,216 |
Feb 2014 | 119 | 2,500 | 11 | 1,182 |
Mar 2014 | 53 | 2,349 | 20 | 1,122 |
Apr 2014 | 166 | 2,374 | 100 | 1,082 |
May 2014 | 271 | 2,394 | 185 | 1,183 |
Jun 2014 | 535 | 2,200 | 843 | 1,842 |
Jul 2014 | 729 | 2,525 | 355 | 2,045 |
Aug 2014 | 890 | 3,036 | 437 | 2,297 |
Sep 2014 | 736 | 3,638 | 402 | 2,596 |
Oct 2014 | 298 | 3,931 | 244 | 2,797 |
Nov 2014 | 77 | 4,074 | 195 | 2,955 |
Dec 2014 | 85 | 4,043 | 95 | 2,994 |
Jan 2015 | 129 | 4,035 | 289 | 3,176 |
Feb 2015 | 61 | 4,089 | 42 | 3,207 |
Mar 2015 | 155 | 4,031 | 58 | 3,245 |
Apr 2015 | 334 | 4,133 | 137 | 3,282 |
May 2015 | 588 | 4,301 | 389 | 3,486 |
Jun 2015 | 855 | 4,618 | 494 | 3,137 |
Jul 2015 | 914 | 4,937 | 542 | 3,324 |
Aug 2015 | 654 | 5,122 | 415 | 3,302 |
Sep 2015 | 504 | 4,885 | 229 | 3,129 |
Oct 2015 | 377 | 4,653 | 230 | 3,115 |
Nov 2015 | 240 | 4,732 | 99 | 3,019 |
Dec 2015 | 89 | 4,896 | 175 | 3,099 |
Jan 2016 | 63 | 4,899 | 52 | 2,862 |
Feb 2016 | 534 | 4,832 | 0 | 2,820 |
Mar 2016 | 123 | 5,305 | 213 | 2,975 |
Apr 2016 | 436 | 5,274 | 183 | 3,021 |
May 2016 | 784 | 5,375 | 474 | 3,106 |
Jun 2016 | 1,431 | 5,571 | 972 | 3,584 |
Jul 2016 | 738 | 6,147 | 539 | 3,581 |
Aug 2016 | 1,025 | 5,974 | 582 | 3,748 |
Sep 2016 | 691 | 6,164 | 387 | 3,906 |
Oct 2016 | 750 | 6,364 | 202 | 3,878 |
Nov 2016 | 367 | 6,418 | 37 | 3,816 |
Dec 2016 | 17 | 6,162 | 0 | 3,641 |
Jan 2017 | 58 | 5,986 | 42 | 3,631 |
Feb 2017 | 101 | 5,971 | 0 | 3,631 |
Mar 2017 | 74 | 5,737 | 97 | 3,515 |
Apr 2017 | 127 | 5,437 | 96 | 3,428 |
May 2017 | 363 | 5,270 | 365 | 3,319 |
Jun 2017 | 609 | 4,928 | 537 | 2,884 |
Jul 2017 | 458 | 4,639 | 544 | 2,889 |
Aug 2017 | 278 | 3,892 | 184 | 2,491 |
Sep 2017 | 403 | 3,603 | 241 | 2,345 |
Oct 2017 | 440 | 3,293 | 261 | 2,404 |
Nov 2017 | 354 | 3,280 | 56 | 2,423 |
Dec 2017 | 288 | 3,551 | 184 | 2,607 |
Jan 2018 | 183 | 3,676 | 70 | 2,635 |
Feb 2018 | 146 | 3,721 | 214 | 2,849 |
Mar 2018 | 357 | 4,003 | 287 | 3,039 |
Apr 2018 | 490 | 4,366 | 217 | 3,160 |
May 2018 | 550 | 4,552 | 634 | 3,429 |
Jun 2018 | 488 | 4,432 | 1,169 | 4,061 |
Jul 2018 | 596 | 4,571 | 778 | 4,295 |
Aug 2018 | 530 | 4,823 | 545 | 4,656 |
Sep 2018 | 746 | 5,166 | 444 | 4,859 |
Oct 2018 | 526 | 5,253 | 187 | 4,785 |
Nov 2018 | 277 | 5,176 | 287 | 5,016 |
Dec 2018 | 67 | 4,955 | 246 | 5,078 |
Jan 2019 | 136 | 4,909 | 108 | 5,116 |
Feb 2019 | 139 | 4,902 | 93 | 4,995 |
Mar 2019 | 251 | 4,796 | 67 | 4,775 |
Apr 2019 | 247 | 4,554 | 195 | 4,753 |
May 2019 | 739 | 4,743 | 797 | 4,916 |
Jun 2019 | 935 | 5,190 | 801 | 4,548 |
Jul 2019 | 2,255 | 6,849 | 1,287 | 5,057 |
Aug 2019 | 1,713 | 8,032 | 886 | 5,398 |
Sep 2019 | 1,453 | 8,739 | 802 | 5,756 |
Oct 2019 | 555 | 8,768 | 583 | 6,152 |
Nov 2019 | 563 | 9,054 | 354 | 6,219 |
Dec 2019 | 190 | 9,176 | 227 | 6,200 |
Jan 2020 | 284 | 9,325 | 188 | 6,280 |
Feb 2020 | 186 | 9,371 | 102 | 6,289 |
Mar 2020 | 327 | 9,447 | 324 | 6,546 |
Apr 2020 | 407 | 9,607 | 529 | 6,880 |
May 2020 | 834 | 9,702 | 649 | 6,732 |
Jun 2020 | 1,043 | 9,810 | 822 | 6,753 |
Jul 2020 | 1,659 | 9,214 | 1,147 | 6,613 |
Aug 2020 | 1,359 | 8,859 | 1,499 | 7,226 |
Sep 2020 | 964 | 8,371 | 1,218 | 7,642 |
Oct 2020 | 836 | 8,652 | 890 | 7,949 |
Nov 2020 | 310 | 8,399 | 484 | 8,079 |
Dec 2020 | 216 | 8,425 | 276 | 8,128 |
Jan 2021 | 86 | 8,225 | 196 | 8,136 |
Feb 2021 | 125 | 8,163 | 179 | 8,213 |
Mar 2021 | 368 | 8,204 | 810 | 8,699 |
Apr 2021 | 580 | 8,377 | 778 | 8,948 |
May 2021 | 1,390 | 8,933 | 1,125 | 9,424 |
Jun 2021 | 1,061 | 8,951 | 926 | 9,528 |
Jul 2021 | 1,498 | 8,790 | 2,095 | 10,476 |
Aug 2021 | 918 | 8,350 | 1,606 | 10,583 |
Sep 2021 | 985 | 8,372 | 1,224 | 10,589 |
Oct 2021 | 877 | 8,413 | 803 | 10,502 |
Nov 2021 | 249 | 8,352 | 480 | 10,498 |
Dec 2021 | 87 | 8,223 | 140 | 10,362 |
Jan 2022 | 430 | 8,568 | 261 | 10,427 |
Feb 2022 | 199 | 8,642 | 303 | 10,551 |
Mar 2022 | 312 | 8,587 | 123 | 9,864 |
Apr 2022 | 1,026 | 9,033 | 1,197 | 10,283 |
May 2022 | 900 | 8,543 | 1,476 | 10,634 |
Jun 2022 | 1,120 | 8,602 | 1,429 | 11,137 |
Jul 2022 | 1,487 | 8,590 | 1,739 | 10,781 |
Aug 2022 | 1,661 | 9,333 | 1,415 | 10,590 |
Sep 2022 | 1,455 | 9,803 | 1,126 | 10,492 |
Oct 2022 | 904 | 9,831 | 627 | 10,316 |
Nov 2022 | 555 | 10,136 | 590 | 10,426 |
Dec 2022 | 229 | 10,278 | 287 | 10,573 |
Jan 2023 | 167 | 10,014 | 198 | 10,510 |
Feb 2023 | 322 | 10,137 | 325 | 10,532 |
Mar 2023 | 356 | 10,181 | 344 | 10,753 |
Apr 2023 | 329 | 9,483 | 336 | 9,892 |
May 2023 | 812 | 9,396 | 339 | 8,755 |
Jun 2023 | 663 | 8,939 | 361 | 7,687 |
Jul 2023 | 500 | 7,952 | 499 | 6,447 |
Aug 2023 | 563 | 6,854 | 568 | 5,600 |
Sep 2023 | 629 | 6,029 | 546 | 5,020 |
Oct 2023 | 435 | 5,559 | 290 | 4,683 |
Nov 2023 | 201 | 5,206 | 116 | 4,209 |
Dec 2023 | 177 | 5,154 | 108 | 4,030 |
Jan 2024 | 119 | 5,106 |
In August 2016, the table data for the DETER columns switches from DETER to DETER-B, Brazil’s new deforestation detection system.
- Iconic Brazil nut crop plunges after extreme drought, skyrocketing prices
- Communities in the Amazon reported severe cuts of up to 80% of Brazil nut crops, with some territories collecting “not even a single nut.”- The nut tree, which can live up to 800 years, is crucial for forest economies and ecosystems, but is increasingly vulnerable to extreme climate events, such as the historic droughts of 2023 and 2024.- Sold worldwide, the Brazil nut’s price soared fourfold, prompting experts to warn of market instability if buyers abandon it, urging recognition of their ecological value and continued inclusion in product lines.
- Indigenous rubber bounces back for Amazon conservation and higher income
- Rubber tapping in the forest was once the main Amazonian economic activity, and now an Indigenous group is bringing it back.- Partnering with Brazilian organizations, Indigenous Gavião communities find they can simultaneously protect the forest and its cultural heritage while boosting their own livelihoods through the wild rubber trade.- The initiative is part of a broader Indigenous-led bioeconomy movement in the Amazon that attracts younger generations by combining traditional practices with technical training and earning opportunities.- Despite promising results, challenges such as drought and limited private sector engagement highlight the need for increased investment to scale up forest-based alternatives.
- From apps to Indigenous guardians: Ways we can save rainforests
Deforestation figures can be frustrating to look at, but there are a number of success stories when it comes to protecting tropical forests that we can learn from, Crystal Davis, global program director at the World Resources Institute, says in a recent Mongabay video. “We know what works. We know how to do it,” Davis
- Droughts are a ‘slow-moving global catastrophe,’ report finds
- A new report documents some of the most widespread and damaging droughts in recorded history, between 2023 and 2025, affecting millions across Africa, the Mediterranean, Latin America and Southeast Asia.- More than 90 million people across Eastern and Southern Africa face acute food insecurity or need food assistance, while women and children bear disproportionate burdens.- The droughts caused agricultural failures, such as Spain’s 50% olive crop loss, and energy crises in countries like Zambia, where power outages lasted up to 21 hours daily.- Drought episodes today cost twice as much as they did in 2000, with costs expected to rise by another 35-110% by 2035.
- The guardians of the Amazon who work without pay — or fear
Founder’s Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and story summaries. In a corner of the rainforest where Colombia meets Peru and Brazil, the hum of chainsaws and gunfire never quite dies. Yet, in the shadows of this long emergency, a subtler resistance endures. Its frontline is marked not
- Seismic noise from oil companies threatens Amazon River Mouth marine life
- As oil companies push for drilling on the Amazon coast, an underwater war silences the ocean’s most vocal creatures.- Petrobras has been conducting surveys since 2013 using seismic airgun blasts that can destabilize marine ecosystems by interrupting essential communication in the marine food chain.- Blasts fired every 10 seconds, reaching more than 230 decibels, disorient and kill cetaceans and other marine life that rely on sound.- The Amazon region is emerging as a new oil frontier, driven by recent discoveries and political will to expand hydrocarbon exploration despite environmental and social risks in an area known for strong sea currents and diverse wildlife.
- Peru’s Indigenous aguaje harvesters turn to sustainability, but challenges remain
Indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon are working to revive populations of the aguaje palm tree, commercially valued for its fruits, by shifting to more sustainable harvesting practices, Mongabay’s Aimee Gabay reported in April. The reptilian-looking fruits of the aguaje palm tree (Mauritia flexuosa) are consumed raw or used as an ingredient in beverages, soap,
- Endangered primates use new canopy bridges in a Brazilian Amazon city
Hundreds of monkeys can now safely cross roads in Alta Floresta, a city in the southern Brazilian Amazon. Seven canopy bridges have reconnected rainforest fragments that were separated by urban roads. Camera traps have recorded more than 3,000 crossings by canopy-dwelling wildlife, an average of more than 12 a day, since October 2024, when the
- Indigenous guards: The shield of Colombia’s Amazon
- For years, using organization and collaboration, unarmed guards in Colombia have acted as protective barriers of territories, the environment and communities.- These days, the guards combine their traditional knowledge with monitoring technology, such as GPS and satellite imagery, so the data can be used by government entities.- Working to protect their territory has put them in danger: Between 2014 and 2024, at least 70 Indigenous guardians have been killed in Colombia.- A team of journalists tracked five cases in the Colombian departments of Amazonas, Putumayo and Guainía to get a firsthand look at these defense processes and the risks Indigenous guardians face.
- In Ecuador’s Amazon, Big Oil exploits Indigenous communities in the absence of the state
- Over the last 30 years, the three companies that have operated Block 10, an oil concession in the central Ecuadorian Amazon, have sought to divide local communities.- They’ve also promoted practices intended to undermine residents’ autonomy, substituting for the state in providing basic services such as health care and education and creating disputes over job opportunities.- An investigation by the cross-border project Every Last Drop reveals how Indigenous leaders and organizations are resisting these efforts.