Amazon Road Project Raises Alarm as it Threatens Biodiversity

Photo Source: Reuters

The home of three indigenous communities in Brazil is on the verge of destruction. Brazilian activists have raised alarm over the purported 94-mile road project that’s expected to pass through an angle of the dense Amazon rainforest that borders Peru.

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro defended the road plan, arguing that the transatlantic project would help in boosting the economy of the area by linking the region to China and the Pacific ports in Peru. His sentiments were echoed by Mara Rocha, a congresswoman, who stated that: “the project was critical to an area that was isolated and obscure to the rest of the country.”

Amazon jungle is the largest tropical rainforest that is located in South America and covers much of the Northwestern Brazil. Close to 40 percent of South America is covered by Amazon rainforest. Eight South American countries such as Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecudaor, Bolivia, Guyana, Venezuela and Suriname are partially covered by the rainforest.

The forest is characterized by a unique ecosystem that influences human life. The forest is home to many species of plants, animals, insects and birds. There are many other animals which are not yet scientifically recorded.

The variety of trees found there are laurel, myrtle, rosewood, palm, acacia, rubber tree, Brazil nut, Amazonian cedar and mahogany among many others. Major wildlife found in Amazon includes manatee, jaguar, red deer, monkeys, red deer and capybara among others.

Amazon rainforest has suffered much deforestation for over a decade, as reported by the Guardian. Brazilian Institute released data that revealed that at least 11,088 square kilometers of the forest was destroyed by fire between 2008 and 2019.

Satellite statistics compiled by a deforestation monitoring program in 2018 revealed that about 7,900 square kilometers of Amazon rainforest was destroyed between August 2017 and July 2018.

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