In Brazil, they want to build a highway through the heart of the Amazon rainforest: scientists fear an ecological catastrophe
Brazilian lawmakers have passed a bill to build a highway through the heart of the Amazon rainforest.
The lower house of Brazil's Congress voted to approve the measure, which weakens environmental licensing. It still needs Senate approval. Scientists say the highway will threaten the future of the world's largest rainforest, as reported by Euronews.
The bill allows for the use of environmental funds donated to Brazil to finance the highway project, such as the $1.3 billion (€1.18 billion) Amazon Fund, which is backed by the United States and European allies.
Highway project in Brazil could trigger deforestation in the Amazon
The highway was originally built in the 1970s by the military government, which was pushing for the settlement of the Amazon, but it was quickly abandoned.
By the end of the 1980s, most of the highway, stretching about 900 kilometers from Porto Velho in the state of Rondônia to Manaus in the state of Amazonas, had become a broken dirt road.
Most of the route is now impassable during the rainy season. Vehicles attempting to navigate it during the dry months crawl along the deteriorated pavement, dodging huge potholes and jungle debris.
Researchers say that repairing the road will trigger an explosion of deforestation in the state of Amazonas, home to much of Brazil's best-preserved rainforest due to the lack of roads.
Every major highway project in the Amazon has led to a surge in land grabbing and illegal deforestation. Researchers warn that the BR-319 will open a new frontier for logging that could push the rainforest beyond the point of no return.
