Politics · Brazil · 1 day ago
Marina Silva warns Flávio Bolsonaro could reverse Amazon protections
Brazil’s presidential run-off is set for 25 October, with Flávio Bolsonaro facing incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Flávio, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, won more than two million votes more than Lula in the first round.
Marina Silva, who served as Lula’s environment minister until April, warns that a Flávio presidency could renew policies that drove rainforest destruction under his father.
During Jair Bolsonaro’s 2019–2022 presidency, environmental and Indigenous protection agencies were weakened, while deforestation and violence rose.
Under Lula, Amazon deforestation has fallen nearly 50%, and illegal miners and ranchers have been removed from some Indigenous territories.
Silva says these gains, along with international funding for rainforest protection, could be put at risk.
The election will decide whether Lula remains president or Flávio Bolsonaro takes office; Silva says a Bolsonaro government would encourage illegal mining and invasions of Indigenous lands.
Marina Silva warned that a Flávio Bolsonaro presidency could reverse Amazon protections and accelerate rainforest destruction.
Flávio Bolsonaro beat incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by more than 2 million votes in the first round, according to the Guardian.
The candidates are due to face each other in a second round on 25 October.
Silva said a Bolsonaro administration would encourage illegal mining, invasions of Indigenous lands and violence against Indigenous and Quilombola communities.
She said Amazon deforestation has fallen nearly 50% under Lula, but fears those gains are at risk.
- Who
- Marina Silva warned about the potential environmental policies of presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro.
- What
- She said he could accelerate the destruction of the Amazon and reverse environmental protections.
- When
- The warning was reported on 10 October 2026, ahead of the second-round election on 25 October.
- Where
- Brazil, including the Amazon rainforest.
- Why
- Silva said Bolsonaro’s political vision favours removing forests for economic activity and could encourage illegal mining and invasions of Indigenous lands.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I’ve no doubt that this time they will try to finish the perverse project they started with [Jair] Bolsonaro.
The vision they have for the Amazon is the same vision they have for everything. They are denialists. Their vision is that the forest must be removed for economic activities.
They will again encourage illegal mining, the invasion of Indigenous lands, and violence against Indigenous and Quilombola communities.
Brazil cannot [be governed by] a political group that wants to turn itself into an American protectorate, as is the case with Venezuela today.
Jair Bolsonaro was president of Brazil, during a period the article says saw surges in deforestation and violence.
Lula beat Jair Bolsonaro in the presidential election.
Silva took over the environment ministry and began efforts to control Amazon destruction.
Flávio Bolsonaro beat Lula by more than 2 million votes, according to the Guardian.
Flávio Bolsonaro and Lula are due to compete in the second round of the presidential election.
- First-round margin
- Flávio Bolsonaro beat Lula by more than 2 million votes
- Second-round date
- 25 October
- Deforestation under Lula
- Nearly 50% lower in the Amazon, according to Silva
- Estimated forest loss this year
- 2,600 sq km
- Forest loss in Jair Bolsonaro’s last year
- Almost 11,600 sq km
Sources
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