Marina Silva's reappointment as Brazil's environment minister has led to substantial reductions in Amazon deforestation, reaching the lowest levels in a decade in 2023. Under her leadership, enforcement of environmental regulations has intensified, effectively halving deforestation rates. However, Silva warns that the Amazon is nearing a tipping point, risking its self-sustainability and biodiversity. To ensure long-term protection, global collaboration is essential to combat fossil fuel consumption alongside national reforms. Silva's commitment reflects her lifelong dedication to Amazon conservation, particularly in context of Brazil's role as a climate leader in the upcoming COP30 conference.
When we took office, we had deforestation on an ascending curve that was out of control, she told me on April 30. We had to rebuild institutions, command and control organizations, and increase public funding.
To halt it, she says, leaders will need to embrace new mechanisms to stop legal deforestation and catalyze efforts to reforest degraded landâall while continuing ongoing enforcement work.
Even if we can nullify deforestation, with climate change, if we don't reduce carbon from fossil fuel emissions, the forest will be destroyed anyway, she says.
For Silva, who was born and raised to a family of rubber tappers in the remote Amazonian state of Acre, this is the next step on a lifelong journey of Amazon protection.
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