Satellite images indicate a new highway, Avenida Liberdade, is being built in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, ahead of the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference. This highway will span 8.2 miles, connecting existing roads and facilitating access but raises environmental concerns including deforestation and illegal activities. Preservation measures are included to mitigate impacts.
Satellite imagery from Copernicus has revealed new highway construction in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, specifically the Avenida Liberdade highway, which is located in Pará state, the venue for the upcoming 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30). Images captured in October 2023 and October 2024 indicate a cleared path approximately 8.2 miles long, with two lanes of traffic, connecting existing road systems around Belem, the state capital.
As of November 2024, the project is around 20% completed, according to the Brazilian government’s updates. Drone footage shared by the BBC has documented the significant clearing of trees along the proposed route. This development aligns with Brazil’s broader goals of improving connectivity to rural and remote areas, including plans to pave additional highways in the Amazon region.
Among these projects is BR-319, a 560-mile road targeting connectivity between Amazonas and Roraima states. Currently mostly a dirt road, this highway presents challenges for vehicle travel. The social advantages of improved access to hospitals, schools, and goods for nearby residents have been highlighted by experts, like Rachael Garrett from the University of Cambridge.
However, the development poses serious environmental concerns. Garrett warns that the creation of highways within rainforest ecosystems can induce a “fishbone pattern” of deforestation, leading to increased habitat destruction. Environmental crime, such as illegal logging and mining, may rise, as warned by Nauê Azevedo from the Climate Observatory in Brazil, indicating that improved accessibility would enable criminal activities.
The Amazon rainforest plays a vital role in combatting climate change by sequestering approximately 200 billion tons of carbon. It also significantly contributes to the global water cycle, releasing around 20 billion tons of water daily. To mitigate these impacts, the Avenida Liberdade highway includes planned environmental preservation measures, including wildlife crossings and solar panel lights.
Designed to manage an increase in traffic due to COP30, which expects around 50,000 delegates, the new highway aims to facilitate travel to Belem, a crucial logistical point for entering the Amazon, benefitting from its strategic port.
The construction of the Avenida Liberdade highway in Brazil poses serious challenges, balancing infrastructural development with environmental conservation. While it aims to improve access for local communities and accommodate COP30 delegations, the potential for increased deforestation and environmental crimes raises significant concerns. As Brazil navigates connectivity needs, careful governance and environmental measures will be essential to protect the vital Amazon rainforest.
Original Source: abcnews.go.com
