The Brazilian government announced on Wednesday that it will invest $75 million (about €65 million) in the BR-319 highway that runs through the heart of the Amazon jungle.
The administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced an environmental protection plan to protect the forest from the potential impacts of the highway.
Environmentalists argue that much of the deforestation in the Amazon rainforest occurs along roads because they are easier to access, and they advocate for developing commitments to take this into account.
The Amazon rainforest is not only home to millions of species of plants and animals, but also has a significant cooling effect on the planet.
Additionally, its trees also absorb and store carbon dioxide – CO₂ – from the atmosphere, which is released back into the atmosphere when trees are cut.
What to know about BR-319?
BR-319 was officially opened in 1976 and later abandoned as the road became too difficult to maintain.
Since then, only a portion of the road has been usable.
A 560-mile (900-kilometre) dirt road is the only road connecting the manufacturing hub of Manaus, located in the densely forested north, to the rest of the country.
The highway project was pushed forward by the country’s military dictatorship, which wanted to develop the region and integrate it with the rest of the country.
Lula took oath on climate protection
“From an environmental point of view, it will be the most modern road in the world,” Lula said during a ceremony in Amazonas state, home to the city of Manaus, accompanied by Environment Minister Joao Paulo Capobianco.
“Any foreigner who comes here to talk about the climate issue, we will show what we have done here,” Lula said.
The government pledged to establish inspection posts, enforcement agency bases and create new protection units. It said it would hire a private company in 2028 to support enforcement.
Environmental Group Challenge BR-319 Highway Project
Environmental groups, including the Climate Observatory, have challenged the highway project in court.
In 2024, the Climate Observatory filed a lawsuit to overturn the initial license to pave the BR-319 highway, issued in 2022, arguing that officials ignored technical warnings from Brazil’s environment agency and failed to require key safeguards such as indigenous consultation and climate impact studies.
Subsequent legal challenges briefly halted the related bidding process in April, but a higher court soon overturned the suspension.
Leftist leader Lula, who will take power in 2023, has spoken favorably of paving BR-319, saying it can be done while also protecting the environment.
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Edited by: Shawn Sinico