Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has pledged to pave a controversial road in the Amazon, despite warnings from environmentalists that it could lead to “historic deforestation.”
The BR-319 highway, which runs through the rainforest, connects the states of Amazonas and Roraima to the rest of Brazil. Critics argue that paving the road will increase destruction of the world’s largest tropical forest and contribute to climate change.
The road ends in Manaus, the Amazon’s largest city, home to more than 2 million people. It runs alongside the Madeira River, which is now at its lowest level ever recorded due to severe drought. The dried-up river has disrupted cargo transport, turning much of its riverbed into sand dunes under a smoky sky.
Edmar Barros/AP Photo
“We can’t leave two capitals isolated,” Lula said on Tuesday while visiting an Indigenous community in Amazonas state. “But we will do it with the utmost responsibility.” However, he did not outline how his government would prevent deforestation after paving the road.
Lula signed a contract to pave 52 kilometers (32 miles) of the highway. He also promised to start work on the most controversial 400-kilometer (249-mile) section through untouched forest before the end of his term in 2026. This permit was granted during the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro, who encouraged Amazon development and weakened environmental protections. In July, a federal court suspended the permit following a lawsuit by environmental groups.
The Climate Observatory, a coalition of 119 organizations, criticized Lula’s decision. “Without the forest, there is no water, it’s interconnected,” said Suely Araújo, a public policy coordinator with the group. “The paving of the middle section of BR-319, without ensuring environmental governance and the presence of the government in the region, will lead to historic deforestation, as pointed out by many specialists and by Brazil’s federal environmental agency in the licensing process.”
Lula has positioned himself as an advocate for the environment, and deforestation rates have slowed since he took office. However, he has also resisted international pressure to preserve the Amazon, which is crucial for absorbing carbon emissions. “The world demands we protect the Amazon,” Lula said. “They want us to take care of the air they breathe, but they didn’t preserve their own lands during the Industrial Revolution.”
Eraldo Peres/AP Photo
Brazil is experiencing its worst drought on record, with 59% of the country affected. In the Amazon, low river levels have stranded hundreds of communities, leaving them without food or clean water. During his visit, Lula announced emergency measures, including distributing water filters.
Meanwhile, smoke from widespread Amazon wildfires has spread across Brazil, affecting cities as far away as São Paulo and reaching neighboring countries. Environment Minister Marina Silva blamed climate change for the fires, noting the extreme drought in a region typically resistant to flames. Silva, who has been more cautious about the road project, previously called the Bolsonaro-era permit a “sham.”
Brazil is the world’s fifth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, with nearly half its emissions coming from Amazon deforestation.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
