The deforestation rate in the Legal Amazon fell by 20% between August 2006 and July 2007, according to final figures from the Amazon Deforestation Monitoring Project (PRODES).

This is the third consecutive year in which deforestation rates have fallen, resulting in an aggregate reduction of 59% since 2004.

PRODES estimates indicate that total deforestation in 2006-07 was 11,224 square kilometres, close to the lowest ever annual total (11,030 sq km, in 1991) since deforestation monitoring began in 1988.

The states of Pará, Mato Grosso and Rondônia together accounted for around 85% of total deforestation in 2006-07.

The state with the grestest deforestation (5,569 sq km) was Pará, which was also the only state to register an increase (albeit only 1%) in relation to the previous year. Mato Grosso registered the second largest deforested area (2,476 sq km), but this represented a 43% reduction in relation to 2005-06. Rondônia's total deforestation was 1,465 sq km, 29% down on 2005-06.

Source: Ministry of the Environment and Embassy of Brazil in London