Brazilian leaders praise a 34% drop in the rate of deforestation in the Amazon

An officer of the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) takes part in an operation against Amazon deforestation at an illegal mining camp, known as garimpo, at the Yanomami territory in Roraima State, Brazil, on February 24. (Alan Chaves/AFP via Getty Images)

Brazil's national government announced last week that the rate of deforestation in the Amazon dropped about 34% in the first six months of this year compared to the same period last year.

The decrease coincided with the new administration of leftist president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who took office in January and pledged to protect the rainforest and reverse ballooning deforestation.