Recent satellite images show the construction of the Avenida Liberdade highway in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, coinciding with plans for the 2025 UN Climate Conference. The highway aims to enhance regional connectivity but raises concerns about deforestation and environmental crimes. Featuring preservation measures, it is designed to handle increased traffic from the upcoming conference.
Recent satellite imagery indicates the ongoing construction of a new highway in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, specifically in the state of Pará, which is poised to host the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference. The satellite images, captured by Copernicus in October 2023 and 2024, reveal the Avenida Liberdade highway, located near Belém, with cleared land flanked by verdant vegetation.
The Avenida Liberdade highway is projected to span approximately 8.2 miles and will consist of two lanes for traffic in both directions, as detailed on the Pará regional government’s website. This roadway aims to connect two existing highways, creating a new access point for the Belém Metropolitan Region. As of November 2024, approximately 20% of the construction is complete, according to updates from the Brazilian government.
Drone footage released by the BBC documents the tree-clearing activity along an 8-mile section of the highway. Meanwhile, Brazil is also planning additional highways in the nation to improve connectivity to rural areas. For instance, there is an initiative to pave the 560-mile BR-319 road, which currently poses challenges for vehicle access.
Rachael Garrett, a conservation and development professor at the University of Cambridge, noted that these road improvements may assist residents in reaching essential services such as hospitals and schools. However, she cautioned that highway construction in the rainforest could exacerbate deforestation, resulting in a “fishbone pattern” expanding from the roadway.
Nauê Azevedo, a litigation specialist with Brazil’s Climate Observatory, pointed out that increased access from highways may lead to a rise in environmental crimes, including illegal logging and mining, if there is insufficient governance in the area.
The Amazon rainforest plays a critical role in counteracting global climate change, with a capacity to store up to 200 billion tons of carbon. It also plays an essential role in the global and regional water cycles, contributing 20 billion tons of water to the atmosphere each day, as stated by the World Wildlife Fund.
Officials asserted that the Avenida Liberdade highway will feature “environmental preservation measures,” including 24 wildlife crossings, cycle lanes, and solar panel lighting. The highway’s construction is intended to accommodate the traffic surge anticipated during COP30, with about 50,000 delegates expected to converge in Belém from November 10 to November 21, making use of the city’s strategic port access to the Amazon rainforest.
In conclusion, the construction of the Avenida Liberdade highway within Brazil’s Amazon rainforest raises significant environmental concerns while aiming to improve connectivity for rural communities. While officials claim the project includes measures for environmental preservation, the potential for increased deforestation and criminal activity poses risks to the vital ecosystem of the Amazon. As Brazil prepares for COP30, the balance between development and conservation remains a pressing issue.
Original Source: abcnews.go.com
