The Amazon rainforest is one of the most important ecosystems on Earth. It absorbs carbon dioxide, supports countless species, and helps regulate the planet’s climate.
But now, a large section of it is being cleared to make way for a new highway, writes WP.
The road is being built to improve access to the Brazilian city of Belém, where the COP30 climate summit will take place in November 2025.
More than 50,000 people, including world leaders, are expected to attend. Many are questioning whether destroying part of the rainforest for a climate conference makes any sense at all.
The project has already cleared over 13 kilometers of forest. Heavy machinery is tearing through protected land, removing trees and flattening the terrain.
The Brazilian government calls the highway sustainable. It will have animal crossings, bike lanes, and solar lighting.
But environmentalists and locals see it differently. They say the road will open the door to further deforestation and threaten wildlife.
Claudio Verequete, a local resident, has already lost his livelihood. He used to gather açaí berries from trees that have now been cut down.
He has received no compensation. “Everything has been destroyed,” he told the BBC. “We no longer have an income to support our family.”
He also fears that businesses will take over the land, forcing his community out. “We were born and raised here. Where will we go?”
The road will not benefit local people. It will be lined with walls, cutting off nearby communities.
Residents will not be allowed to use it, even in emergencies. Scientists are also raising concerns. The highway will split the rainforest into two isolated sections.
This could disrupt migration patterns and make it harder for animals to survive. Professor Silvia Sardinha, a veterinarian and researcher, worries about the impact.
She says injured wildlife will be harder to rehabilitate once the road is built. “People living in the Amazon are not being heard,” she said.
The Brazilian government says the highway is necessary. It is one of 30 projects meant to modernize Belém for COP30.
Some business owners support the development. They believe it will create opportunities and improve the local economy.
But for many, the cost is too high. Cutting down the Amazon for a climate summit seems like a contradiction that cannot be ignored.
