 In 2018, about 17% of the Amazon rainforest was already destroyed.Research suggests that upon reaching about 20–25% (hence 3–8% more), the tipping point to flip it into a non-forest ecosystems – degraded savannah – (in eastern, southern and central Amazonia) will be reached.Prior to the early 1960s, access to the forest's interior was highly restricted, and the forest remained basically intact.