The Brazilian government has stated that deforestation of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil has fallen to the lowest rate in at least seven years.
More controls on illegal logging, improved certification of land ownership, and economic development projects that preserve the forest are driving deforestation down. An estimated 9,600 square kilometres of the world's largest rainforest were cleared in the year ending July 31st 2007, compared to a revised 14,039 square kilometres the previous year. 
The findings are based on a preliminary study of satellite images and have a margin of error of plus or minus 10 per cent. 
The final report is expected by November.