The small town of Apui sits at the new frontline of Brazil's fight against advancing deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, where vast forest fires belch jet black smoke visible for miles and loggers denude the jungle.
The home of 21,000 people in southern Amazonas state was long protected by its remote location from illegal loggers, ranchers and farmers who clear the forest.
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Trusting that every effort will help to save rainforest, Environment Minister José Sarney Filho is looking to the next full PRODES data report, due in November, to show a decline in deforestation.
Without providing details, he said this week that the preliminary data showed a drop from last year.
"Everything indicates that the curve is falling," he said. "We're optimistic."