The Brazilian government is clearing thousands of acres of Amazon rainforest to build a highway for the upcoming COP30 summit in Belém. Environmentalists express grave concerns regarding wildlife disruption, while state officials assert the highway will enhance mobility. Local sentiments are mixed about the project’s advantages, and COP30 organizers focus on forest preservation despite the deforestation occurring ahead of the summit.
In Brazil, extensive areas of protected Amazon rainforest are being cleared to construct a four-lane highway in anticipation of the 30th UN Climate Change Conference, known as COP30, taking place in Belém this November. This significant construction aims to accommodate over 50,000 attendees but raises serious environmental concerns, as reported by the BBC.
Wildlife veterinarian Professor Silvia Sardinha expressed alarm at the potential impacts of deforestation, highlighting that animals will face significant barriers to migration, thus diminishing their living and breeding habitats. She emphasized the critical loss of natural environments necessary for wildlife reintegration after deforestation.
Meanwhile, Adler Silveira, the state government’s infrastructure secretary, defended the project as a “sustainable highway” that constitutes a vital mobility improvement. He assured that provisions for wildlife crossings would be included to mitigate the ecological impact of the highway.
Local residents have shown mixed responses; some assert that the highway will yield no tangible benefits, while others believe it will enhance the city as a whole. The Pará state government has been considering the construction of “Avenida Liberdade” since 2012, with previous efforts halted due to environmental concerns.
Apart from the highway, the federal government also intends to expand the local airport and establish a sizable 500,000-square-mile city park. However, COP30 organizers have clarified their focus solely on climate negotiations and do not involve themselves in infrastructure matters.
Despite the extensive deforestation, the central theme of the COP30 summit includes the preservation of forests and biodiversity, marking Belém as the inaugural COP venue in the Amazon. COP30 president-designate André Aranha Corrêa Do Lago emphasized the event’s objective to support forests and combat deforestation, advocating for scientific insight into forest preservation strategies. He indicated the urgent need for climate action to restore lost ecosystems and significantly reduce greenhouse gas levels.
The construction of a new highway in Belém, Brazil, raises pressing environmental concerns as thousands of acres of Amazon rainforest are cleared ahead of the COP30 summit. While officials assure sustainability efforts, local reactions vary, revealing a community divided on the project’s benefits. Meanwhile, COP30 aims to address critical forest preservation topics amidst growing deforestation, underscoring the urgency for effective climate action and biodiversity protection.
Original Source: www.foxnews.com
