New Highway Construction in Brazil’s Amazon: Implications and Concerns

Satellite imagery indicates the construction of Avenida Liberdade, a new highway cutting through the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, coinciding with the upcoming 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Pará. While the project aims to improve connectivity, experts warn of potential deforestation and increased environmental crime, emphasizing the Amazon’s critical role in climate mitigation.

Recent satellite images suggest the construction of a new highway, named Avenida Liberdade, is underway in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest. This development is particularly significant as the Brazilian state of Pará is poised to host the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30). Observations from Copernicus satellites taken in late 2023 and 2024 indicate a cleared pathway amid dense foliage, close to the city of Belém, the capital of Pará.

The Avenida Liberdade highway is designed to span approximately 8.2 miles and will feature two lanes of traffic in both directions. It aims to connect two existing road networks, functioning as a new entry and exit conduit for the Belém Metropolitan Region. As of November 2024, the construction was around 20% complete based on updates from the Brazilian government’s official website.

Additional media, including drone footage by the BBC, show substantial deforestation along the route of the new highway. While Brazil is also pursuing highway infrastructure improvements to enhance connectivity in rural areas, environmental experts express concern over such projects. In northwest Brazil, plans are being made to pave BR-319, a 560-mile road currently unpaved and arduous to traverse, linking Amazonas and Roraima with the rest of the country.

Rachael Garrett, a conservation and development professor at the University of Cambridge, noted the social benefits for local residents, stating that access to healthcare and education would improve. However, she warned that construction may initiate a “fishbone pattern” of deforestation, expanding from the roadway.

Moreover, Nauê Azevedo, a specialist from the Climate Observatory in Brazil, emphasized the risk of increased environmental crimes, such as illegal logging and mining, that would occur without adequate governance.

The Amazon rainforest plays a crucial role in combating climate change, capable of storing up to 200 billion tons of carbon. It also significantly impacts global water cycles, releasing an estimated 20 billion tons of water into the atmosphere daily. In a bid to mitigate ecological impacts, the Avenida Liberdade highway includes various environmental preservation features, including wildlife crossings, bicycle lanes, and solar-powered lighting.

This highway aims to manage traffic from COP30, which is anticipated to attract approximately 50,000 delegates to Belém, a strategic port city located at the confluence of prominent waterways. The conference is scheduled for November 10 to 21, 2025.

The emergence of the Avenida Liberdade highway in the Amazon rainforest raises significant concerns regarding deforestation and environmental degradation. While purposed for better connectivity and to accommodate traffic for COP30, the potential escalation of illegal activities and adverse ecological consequences warrant attention. The preservation measures incorporated into the project may help mitigate some impacts, yet the broader implications on the Amazon’s crucial role in global climate health remain a pressing issue.

Original Source: abcnews.go.com