Researchers from the National Institute of Amazon Research have published an open letter based on
Scientists noted that in June 2020, the Brazilian authorities planned to build a highway through the Amazon forest.However, the construction will require cutting down a huge number of trees - about 700 square kilometers.Deforestation will release huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The area of fires in the Amazon forest increased by 28%
Scientists also suggest that the roadforest coverage will set a precedent for other rainforest projects, such as dams for hydroelectric dams or new highways. The researchers also note that the construction of the new highway will serve as a signal to the international community that Brazil is unwilling to fulfill its climate commitments.
Earlier, Brazilian authorities reported that the firesin the Amazon forests increased by 28%. The fires could reach the same levels as in 2019. These numbers have activists worried that the fires could reach the levels they saw in August and September 2019. “This is a terrible sign,” said Ane Alencar, director of the Brazilian Institute of Environmental Research in the Amazon. “We expect the number of fires to only increase in August, and September will be even worse.”
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