Brazil is building the Avenida Liberdade highway through the rainforest for COP30. While aimed at improving traffic and infrastructure in Bélem, the project has drawn criticism for its environmental impact, particularly concerning protected rainforest areas. Residents are divided on the highway’s implications for local commerce and ecological conservation.
Brazil is currently developing a highway in the rainforest to facilitate an upcoming United Nations climate change conference, COP30, scheduled for November in Bélem. This city, which has a population of 1.3 million and serves as a vantage point to the Amazon River, is not only enhancing its central square but also implementing several infrastructure upgrades such as a new drainage system, cycle path, and a clean energy setup that includes a metal lookout and picnic area.
However, the construction of a new four-lane highway, Avenida Liberdade, has garnered criticism due to its impact on the Amazon rainforest. The government states that the highway, which will stretch 13.3 kilometers and include exclusive cycle lanes, is designed to alleviate traffic congestion during conferences that typically attract over 50,000 attendees, including influential leaders and environmental activists.
Local representatives announced that construction is already 20 percent complete and progressing well. Vice-Governor Hana Tuma characterized Avenida Liberdade as a transformative dream for the city. Nonetheless, residents are divided; for instance, Claudio Verequete expressed deep concerns over his lost livelihood from berry harvesting due to deforestation caused by the project.
Conversely, some locals, like Dalci Cardoso da Silva, welcome the development, arguing that it improves the city and boosts local commerce, enabling them to earn more. Infrastructure Secretary Adler Silveira echoed positive sentiments, referring to the highway as an essential mobility solution, albeit this contrasts sharply with criticisms pointing to environmental deterioration in a designated protection area.
The Metropolitan Belém Environmental Protection Area, established in 1993, strictly prohibits activities that could harm the environment. Nonetheless, images reveal ongoing construction within this protected zone, raising significant concerns about ecological conservation versus development initiatives in the region.
In conclusion, the development of the Avenida Liberdade highway in Bélem highlights the tension between urban infrastructure improvements and environmental preservation. While the highway is intended to accommodate the influx of attendees for the COP30 climate conference, it raises significant concerns regarding the destruction of protected rainforest areas. The differing opinions of residents further illustrate the complex relationship between economic development and ecological responsibility in this historically rich region.
Original Source: nationalpost.com
