Deforestation Rate in Amazon Lowest Since 1988, Brazil Says

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is at its lowest annual rate in 23 years, according to multiple news outlets citing data from the country's National Institute for Space Research.

Studying satellite photos, researchers determined that about 6,200 square kilometers were deforested in the 12 months through July, which CNN noted is roughly the size of Delaware. The rate of deforestation is now at its lowest level since Brazil officials started monitoring the Amazon-the world's largest rainforest-in 1988.

Science and Technology Minister Aloizio Mercadante told Businessweek that "relentless combat done by the Brazilian government" was the main reason for the decrease in deforestation.

Maplecroft, a United Kingdom-based risk analysis and mapping company, recently released a study pegging the United Nation's estimate of deforestation in Brazil from 2005 to 2010 at about 2.2 million hectares a year on average, or about 22,000 square kilometers.