Amazon forest on the edge of collapse in the Maranhao State, Brazil

The year 2019 in Brazil was marked by environmental setbacks, which catalyzed the increase of illegal deforestation and fire rates in the Brazilian Amazon. In the Amazon region of Maranhao state, original forest cover diminished from 25 % (24,700 km(2)) in 2016 to 24 % (23,967 km(2)) in 2019, and 6,038 km(2) of remaining forests were degraded by fires and/or illegal logging - processes related to high levels of violence against indigenous and rural communities. Almost half of all deforested areas in the region (36,060 km(2)) are considered a global restoration hotspot, however secondary vegetation remains unprotected and 8,294 km(2) were cleared between 2014 and 2018. Due to uncontrolled deforestation and fragmentation, Maranhao has no more forest core areas (outside protected areas) with the minimum size to ensure sustainable forest management practices for timber production. New policies at the state level must promote old-growth and secondary forest conservation and restoration. However, the trends point to the opposite direction: the Ecological-Economic Zoning (ZEE) allows the reduction of forest protection and the State Forest Policy reinforces federal legislation setbacks. The Amazon region of Maranhao state has forest aptitude, and forest and agroforestry product chains would bring social and environmental benefits, making them the best opportunity for sustainable economic development in the region. Therefore, the forest must be re-planted for the benefit of people and nature.