Between January and March, the destruction of the Cerrado was a record, reaching almost 1,400 square kilometers| Photo: Marcelo Camargo/Agência Brasil

The first quarter of the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula (PT) was marked by growth in deforestation in the Cerrado and in the Amazon, according to data from the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe). According to the survey, between January and March, the destruction of the Cerrado was a record, reaching almost 1,400 square kilometers.

In the Amazon biome, the destruction was the second largest in the historical series: approximately 850 square kilometers. The deforested area in both biomes in 2023 is equivalent to two cities in Rio de Janeiro (1,200 square kilometers).

According to the Ministry of the Environment, there was a 219% increase in the application of fines due to deforestation, compared to the government of former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL). Also according to the Ministry, the Lula government has stepped up measures to combat the illegal practice of deforestation.

In a note, the folder said: “These are measures that decapitalize offenders and prevent them from obtaining financing, in addition to restricting the trade of illegal products.”

Inpe maps and issues deforestation alerts in order to guide the actions of Ibama and other inspection bodies.

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