AGP Executive Report

Amazon mining & mercury risk: A Grist/InfoAmazonia investigation says Brazil’s National Mining Agency still holds permits tied to irregular gold production in the Tapajós region, where mercury from mining is contaminating river food and leaving communities with unsafe mercury levels. Deforestation trend: MapBiomas monitoring reports Amazon deforestation fell in 2025 to the lowest level since 2019, but destruction remains “breathtaking,” with the Cerrado still the hardest-hit biome. Amazon climate stress: New research using Amazon tree growth rings finds rainfall is becoming more extreme—wetter wet seasons, drier dry seasons—linked to deforestation and climate change, with drought impacts already showing up. Climate on the ground in Brazil: A survey by Aurora Lab and More finds 85% of Brazilians feel climate change in daily life, citing higher living costs and health impacts, and most want government to protect workers during the transition. Online animal cruelty campaign: Instituto Ampara Animal launched “Animal Safety,” pushing platforms and policymakers to stop animal torture content from being normalized online. Commodities geopolitics: Analysis highlights Brazil’s growing strategic role in rare earths and other critical minerals as supply-chain shocks reshape global industry.

Amazon Watch: Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon hit its lowest level since 2019, with forest loss down 20.6% in 2025 to under 1 million hectares, according to MapBiomas—though experts warn about tipping-point risks if degradation continues. Indigenous & Biodiversity: Brazil also reported conservation wins, including the rescue of 69 Spix’s macaws from a breeding center in Bahia, underscoring ongoing pressure on wildlife and habitat. Deforestation Finance: A new report by the Financial Transparency Coalition says financial secrecy is fueling illicit deforestation in Brazil and Cameroon, estimating Brazil’s timber exports from illegally cleared land at $1.28B in 2024. Climate & Agriculture Link: Rising fertilizer prices tied to the Iran conflict are pushing farmers toward compost and biofertilizers, with potential spillover for Brazil’s own food and export markets. Environmental Defenders: Latin American activists in Lima urged stronger protection for people defending water, territories and biodiversity, warning that criminalization and violence remain widespread.

Brazil’s Amazon deforestation slowdown: New reporting says deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon has fallen to the lowest level since 2019, with monitoring networks highlighting a sharp drop below 1 million hectares—an important signal for biodiversity and forest carbon. Wildlife & courts: India’s Supreme Court rejected a bid to reopen the Vantara wildlife-transfer probe, saying the Jamnagar facility acted in good faith and that any exporter irregularity abroad can’t automatically shift liability to the Indian receiver. Climate risk for sport: A study warns extreme heat is making unsafe conditions more likely for the 2026 World Cup, with human-caused climate change increasing the odds of matches facing heat stress. Energy transition & emissions: IHS Towers says it cut emissions 21% in 2025 as it pushes net-zero goals, tying telecom infrastructure to climate accountability. Nature & well-being: A global study finds people who feel more connected to nature report higher well-being, including in Brazil.

Amazon Illegal Gold Mining: Greenpeace Brasil says illegal gold mining is still thriving in the Amazon despite Lula’s crackdown, linking 26.8 tons of gold (2018–Mar 2026) to suspicious mining permits near Indigenous lands and protected forests, with Kayapó leaders warning of environmental damage. Deforestation Monitoring: Separate reporting highlights that deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon has fallen to the lowest level since 2019, with MapBiomas monitoring cited as part of the trend. Citrus Disease Shift: Brazil’s citrus belt is reshaping into a “mosaic” as greening drives growers out of São Paulo toward Mato Grosso do Sul, which is rapidly expanding orange acreage. Climate Data for Latin America: Environmental data reporters shared how they use satellite mapping and geolocation to track climate impacts across the Amazon and Paraná Basin. Trade Talks: Brazil and Suriname will negotiate in the second half of the year to expand a small, mostly Brazilian-export-heavy trade relationship. Agriculture Resilience: IICA member states backed a new strategic plan focused on food security, environmental sustainability, and resilience.

Amazon Gold Rush: Indigenous leaders in Pará say wildcat miners are pushing into neighboring territories, raising fears of armed clashes as gold prices surge. Heritage Protection: A Brazilian court in Pará ordered federal and local authorities to restore and preserve Fordlandia, Henry Ford’s Amazon “ghost town,” after prosecutors said heritage agencies failed to act. Climate & Energy Policy: Brazil’s push for ethanol-blended petrol and wider E10/E20 adoption is framed as a way to cut CO2 and reduce import pressure, while broader heat-risk research highlights how climate stress is worsening vulnerability. Biodiversity & Land Rights: Brazil’s traditional peoples launch an Atlantic forest alliance, adding momentum to conservation and community-led protection. Cybersecurity & Finance: A malicious NuGet package targeting Sicoob (Brazil’s cooperative banking system) is reported to steal client IDs and PFX certificates, underlining growing digital risk for financial infrastructure. Offshore Oil Contracts: SBM Offshore won Petrobras contracts to design, build and operate FPSOs SEAP-I and SEAP-II in the Sergipe-Alagoas basin, with deliveries expected in 2030–2031.

Amazon Policy Clash: Brazil’s Congress passed a bill that would limit environmental agencies’ ability to use satellite images to restrict sales from illegally deforested land, pushing enforcement toward on-the-ground inspections—raising alarms that it could weaken IBAMA’s ability to act fast in the Amazon. Indigenous-Led Protection: Representatives of traditional peoples launched the “Guardians of the Atlantic Forest” alliance at USP Law School, aiming to defend ancestral territories and press for stronger public policies to protect one of Brazil’s most threatened biomes. Deforestation Debate: A new analysis argues Amazon conservation can’t rely only on keeping forests “on the map,” stressing gaps in finance, governance, enforcement, Indigenous rights, and public support. Climate Risk for Farmers: An op-ed warns El Niño’s extreme variant could hit Latin America and the Caribbean with flooding in some areas and drought in others, threatening yields, food prices, and rural stability—especially for Brazil and the Southern Cone. Wildlife Research: Scientists in Brazil helped explain why frogs don’t follow classic island-life rules: saltwater barriers block their survival and reshape biodiversity patterns. Biodiversity Signal: A study with Brazil-linked researchers documents record-long humpback whale journeys, including one tracked crossing between Brazil and Australia over decades. Transnational Crime & Security: The U.S. designated Brazil’s PCC and Comando Vermelho as terrorist organizations, a move that could affect regional security and cross-border illicit networks.

Climate Risk: UN and World Meteorological Organization projections warn the next five years will repeatedly push global temperatures past the Paris “safe” 1.5°C line, with heightened heat and drought risks including for the Amazon. Amazon & Indigenous Rights: Chief Megaron, heir to Raoni Metuktire’s Amazon defense, vowed to continue protecting Indigenous lands, culture and language as international attention stays on the Kayapo territories. Deforestation Watch: Reports say deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon has fallen to the lowest level since 2019, signaling progress but keeping pressure on enforcement. Energy Transition: Brazil’s offshore wind sector is moving toward final rules after Law 15,097 and CNPE guidelines, with projects still waiting on the next decree. Policy & Land Use: Brazil’s Senate is set to vote in early June on rural debt restructuring credit lines, a move that could shape farm financing and land pressures. Carbon Markets: A new study argues temporary carbon storage can’t legitimately offset CO2, raising credibility questions for offset schemes. Biodiversity & Wildlife: A rare jaguarundi sighting in Brazil’s Amazon highlights ongoing monitoring of vulnerable species.

Climate Outlook: The UN’s weather agency warns the next five years are overwhelmingly likely to average more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, with an especially risky Amazon drought and wildfire threat. Amazon Infrastructure Debate: Brazil says it will invest $75 million to revive the BR-319 highway through the Amazon, while also announcing an environmental protection plan—critics fear roads will spur deforestation. Indigenous Leadership: Kayapo chief Megaron Txucarramae says he will carry forward the legacy of Raoni Metuktire, after Raoni’s recent pneumonia hospitalization, as illegal mining pressures Indigenous lands. Biodiversity & Wildlife: A new look at Brazil’s Ilha de Queimada Grande (“Snake Island”) revisits how isolation and climate shifts shaped the island’s deadly golden lancehead viper. Food & Trade Pressure: China suspended imports from three Brazilian meat plants over traces of a prohibited synthetic hormone, adding uncertainty for exporters.

Amazon Deforestation Watch: Brazil’s Amazon deforestation fell to the lowest level since 2019, with MapBiomas reporting about 985,000 hectares of native vegetation lost in 2025 (down 20.6% year-on-year) and Amazon losses down 23.5%, a shift linked to tougher enforcement and sanctions under President Lula. Climate & Risk Context: The same monitoring notes the slowdown doesn’t erase pressure from wildfires, drought, and ongoing forest degradation, and MapBiomas figures exclude forest loss from fires. Policy Signal: Lula’s push to end illegal deforestation by 2030 is getting a boost as reductions show up across Brazil’s major ecosystems. Biodiversity & Land Use: Brazil’s progress still leaves ecosystems vulnerable, with enforcement gains now the key variable to watch as the country heads toward major international climate scrutiny.

Amazon Watch: Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon fell 20.6% in 2025 to 985,000 hectares—the lowest since 2019—boosted by more enforcement and fewer major fires after a record 2024 season. Carbon Rules: A major step toward harmonized rules for the global carbon market is underway, aiming to reduce cross-border trading friction. Global Health Reform: Brazil’s health minister joined a Geneva push for sovereign, country-led global health architecture. Disaster Risk: BRICS disaster-reduction talks are set for Puri, with Brazil among the delegations. Biodiversity Under Pressure: The decline of bees is flagged as a growing threat to food security, with Brazil’s beekeeping traditions highlighted as a lifeline. Local Tech Growth: New reporting says broadband expansion in Brazil’s Legal Amazon is translating into measurable economic gains. Politics: Flávio Bolsonaro is in Washington, leaning on Trump ties amid election-year turbulence.

Coffee Watch: Conab’s second 2026 harvest report points to a record year—cultivated area up 3.9% to 2.34 million hectares and average productivity rising to 34.4 bags/ha—while exports in Jan–Apr fell 22.5% to 11.5 million bags, with a rebound expected in the second half as the new crop hits. Health & Climate: A new multi-country study links hotter weather to higher risk of premature birth, underscoring how heat stress can turn into pregnancy risk. Brazil Legal Pressure: Brazilian prosecutors have sued Anvisa and the federal government to ban glyphosate, arguing for worker and health protections, while the regulator and industry dispute the danger claims. Amazon & Land Use: A long-running land-use fight in Sonoma (U.S.) shows how environmental and water concerns can reshape development plans—an echo of the kind of scrutiny Brazil’s land decisions increasingly face. Culture Spotlight: “Carolina Maria de Jesus” heads to Cannes’ Goes to Cannes showcase, bringing the writer’s poverty-and-dignity story to a wider audience.

Amazon finance push: Brazil committed R$3.1bn ($617.5m) to Eco Invest, aiming to fund Amazon-friendly tourism, infrastructure, and the forest-based “bioeconomy,” using blended finance that leverages private money and targets foreign investors. Protected areas under strain: A new study warns Brazil’s protected-area system is strong on paper, but many federal reserves—especially in the Amazon—are underfunded, leaving gaps in staff, patrols, fire response, and monitoring. Deforestation vs. quality of life: Brazil’s Social Progress Index links heavy Amazon clearing to worse municipal outcomes, arguing deforestation doesn’t deliver better living conditions. Women online safety: Lula signed decrees that make platforms responsible for certain crimes and misogyny content without waiting for court orders, alongside tougher protections for women online. Climate pressure on water: A global study finds rivers are losing oxygen as the planet warms, raising the risk of fish die-offs and dead zones.

Women’s Safety Push: President Lula signed new rules to strengthen protection against online violence against women, including platform obligations, faster removal of abusers from contact with victims, a National Registry of Offenders, and tighter measures for repeat threats—marking the 100th day of Brazil’s femicide pact. Regional Coordination: Brazil also proposed a Mercosur pact against femicide, aiming for cross-border cooperation on prevention, protection, and access to justice. Amazon & Climate: Latin America committed to zero deforestation by 2030, targeting illegal logging and pushing conservation, biodiversity protection, and ocean and landfill pollution cuts. Eco Invest Boost: Brazil plans a $10bn Eco Invest auction to pull in foreign capital for green fertilizers, critical minerals processing, sustainable fuels, and circular waste use. Beef Trade Shock: China’s beef quota squeeze keeps pressure on Brazilian exporters, with higher tariffs after quota fill.

Amazon Politics: A new commentary warns that upcoming presidential elections in Brazil, Peru, and Colombia will decide the fate of about 82% of the Amazon, as droughts, floods, illegal mining, and organized crime keep rising while environmental issues stay oddly absent from debates. Wildlife Comeback: In a conservation win, giant anteaters have been spotted again after more than a century in parts of Latin America, with camera-trap footage linking recovered habitat between Argentina and Brazil. Health Gap Exposed: The WHO declared a Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak in DRC and Uganda a public health emergency, highlighting how vaccine research stalls when neglected-disease funding and preparedness lag. Flooding Accountability: Rio’s Civil Defense sub-secretary skipped a parliamentary inquiry on flooding, as technicians described gaps and bonus disputes tied to the agency. Culture & Heritage: Zimbabwe’s Baradzanwa Mbira festival drew international diplomats, spotlighting mbira music as a living heritage.

Amazon & Amazon policy: Brazil’s Amazon satellite ban is being framed as a fresh test of Lula’s green promises ahead of the election, while Deforestation politics: legislative moves threaten to weaken the fight against clearing forests. Climate accountability: a new pushback against climate lawsuits is gaining momentum as courts and regulators narrow the path for claims against energy firms. Water & health in Rio: environmental racism is again in focus in São Gonçalo after a school was closed indefinitely following repeated February floods, highlighting how infrastructure gaps turn extreme rain into long-term harm. Biodiversity watch: scientists report record humpback whale crossings between Australia and Brazil, underscoring how far-ranging ocean life is—and how climate shifts may be reshaping routes. Energy pressure: fuel-price anxiety continues as global disruptions keep crude high, with knock-on effects for households and food supply chains.

Amazon Oversight Clash: Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies approved a bill that would bar environmental agencies from sanctioning deforestation based only on satellite images—an agribusiness-backed move that could sharply limit IBAMA’s remote enforcement just as Lula’s government promises to end illegal Amazon clearing by 2030. Indigenous Health at the UN: UN delegates warned that Indigenous health can’t be separated from land, water, and ecosystems, criticizing health approaches that treat environment as separate from care. Public Health Watch: Rising global attention on Hantavirus is fueling concern about Nigeria’s preparedness, with experts pointing to sanitation gaps and weak awareness. Food Safety Alarm: Researchers in São Paulo found antibiotic residues building up in the Piracicaba River and in fish, raising fresh questions about pollution and what ends up on plates. Wildlife Milestone: Humpback whales were confirmed making record-breaking journeys between Brazil and Australia—over 14,000 km—highlighting how connected ecosystems are across oceans.