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Brazil reported a record fall in Amazon deforestation as the country heads toward a crucial presidential election, according to figures released around October 17, 2026. The decline marks a reversal from the expansion of deforestation that occurred under former president Jair Bolsonaro. The Amazon rainforest serves as a vital buffer against climate change, and the reduction in forest loss is being framed as a significant environmental achievement ahead of the vote, with implications for Brazil's climate policy direction depending on the election outcome.