By Beatriz Araújo – From Cenarium
MANAUS (AM) – Deforestation in the Legal Amazon increased by 68% in January 2025 compared to the same period last year. Even so, the governments of the states leading the deforestation ranking have remained silent on the destruction of the forest. On Monday, the 24th, Cenarium Magazine requested clarifications from the executive branches of Mato Grosso, Roraima, and Pará, but no responses were given.
Reaching 133 km² of deforested area, the Amazon recorded its sixth-largest deforested area for the month of January 2025, 68% higher than the same period in 2024. The extent of the destruction is equivalent to more than 400 football fields being devastated per day. The data was released by the Deforestation Alert System (SAD) of Imazon.
In the same survey, it is possible to see that Mato Grosso led the deforestation ranking in January this year, accounting for 45% of the total deforested area, followed by Roraima with 23% and Pará with 20%. Together, the three states account for 88% of the deforested area recorded in the Amazon.
According to researchers at Imazon, deforestation rates serve as a warning for authorities to develop and strengthen monitoring actions in the region, intensify inspections, expand operations to combat environmental crimes, and reinforce policies that encourage the protection and sustainable use of the forest.
CENARIUM contacted the environmental departments of Mato Grosso, Roraima, and Pará to find out what measures are being taken to curb the impact of deforestation in these states. However, by the time this report was published, the executive branches had not provided a response.
Roraima Against Funai
This is not the first time that states have opposed measures that could contribute to reducing the power of regulatory agencies. In early February, Roraima senator Mecias de Jesus (Republicanos-RR) submitted a Legislative Decree Proposal (PDL) in the Federal Senate to suspend the regulation of the police power of the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples (Funai).
In the justification for PDL 50/2025, the Roraima senator claims that the regulation of Funai’s police power presents “a series of unconstitutionality and illegalities that compromise legal security” and that the measure “was published without consultation with indigenous communities.”
In addition to Senator Mecias de Jesus, Senator Dr Hiran (Progressistas-RR) also submitted a PDL in the Federal Senate to suspend the regulation of Funai’s police power and stated that the federal measure “allows Funai to operate in areas that are already under the jurisdiction of other environmental agencies, such as Ibama.”
Edited by Izaías Godinho
Reviewed by Gustavo Gilona
Translated from Portuguese by Gustô Alves
