Brazil Amazon deforestation drops 60 percent

Brazil reported a major fall in Amazon deforestation in July: official figures say tree-clearing and burning dropped about 60 percent compared with the same month last year. The government and the environment minister attribute the decline to political changes and new administration policies, based on national monitoring systems. Scientists caution this reflects a single month and that short-term figures can be influenced by seasonal and reporting factors.

The decline comes as eight Amazon basin countries prepare a regional summit to strengthen cooperation against forest loss and protect local communities. Proposed measures include coordinated action plans, a scientific advisory panel, and programs to tackle inequality and support sustainable livelihoods. Officials say outside investment will be needed to scale alternatives to deforestation, while threats such as El Niño could raise fire risk and complicate conservation gains.

Who did it? And what's their angle?

Every conspiracy theory pins one culprit and one motive on the same story. The same story can spawn any number of theories — different culprits, different motives. That's part of how you spot a conspiracy theory: the same event can be "explained" any number of ways.

You'll walk through the four moves on separate screens, with a debunk on every step.