Police in Brazil have targeted a group suspected of using chemicals to clear a vast area of the Amazon rainforest in ParaSAO PAULO -- SAO PAULO (AP) — Police in Brazil on Tuesday targeted a group suspected of using chemicals to clear a vast area of the Amazon rainforest in the northern state of Para, officials said in a statement. It was not immediately clear when the chemicals were applied or when the deforestation occurred. The authorities said the suspects' activities ranged from purchasing chemicals to concealing environmental information. The Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest, plays a critical role in regulating the climate far beyond South America. According to MapBiomas, an organization tracking land use in Brazil, deforestation in the Amazon fell by 23.5% in 2025, compared to the previous year.