Climate

A Belgium-sized area of Amazon wetland has been converted, and losses are climbing

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 19/10/2026, 11:54:24 UTC.

Briefings

A new study reveals that over 6% of Amazon floodplain forests have been cleared in the last 40 years, with nearly a third occurring between 2015 and 2024. The converted area is roughly the size of Belgium, and public land not yet assigned by the government had the largest share of human conversion at a median of nearly 14%. Researchers found that people burn these lands to claim land titles, driven by incentives for land-grabbing practices.

Key points

• Over 6% of Amazon floodplain forests have been cleared in the last 40 years, with nearly a third occurring between 2015 and 2024.
• Public land not yet assigned by the government had the largest share of human conversion at a median of nearly 14%.

Context

This finding highlights a significant loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Brazilian Amazon, where wetlands cover around 30% of the region. The study by Imazon and lead author Guilherme Lobo at the State University of Campinas provides critical data on deforestation trends and land-grabbing incentives.

Limitations

The evidence is limited to a single study published in 2026, which may not capture all historical or ongoing deforestation patterns. The study covers 13 land designations but does not account for all human activities or environmental factors. Some data points are from a preprint and may be subject to revision or further research.

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