Researchers have found that the rate of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest has increased by 25% over the past year. Satellite data from the National Institute for Space Research shows that a total of 7,989 square kilometers of forest were lost between August 2020 and July 2021. This is the highest annual deforestation rate since 2008. The Brazilian government has faced criticism for not doing enough to protect the rainforest, which plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate. Environmentalists are calling for immediate action to address this alarming trend before irreversible damage is done.