Overview

• The 13.3-kilometer highway, named Avenida Liberdade, will bisect a protected Amazon reserve of 7,458 hectares, raising concerns about environmental damage and habitat fragmentation.
• The project requires the removal of thousands of trees, including species of ecological importance and two that are considered endangered, according to local reports.
• Government officials claim the highway includes 'sustainable' features like wildlife crossings, solar-powered lighting, and bike lanes, but critics argue these measures do little to offset the ecological harm.
• Residents living near the construction site have reported losing income from destroyed forest resources and claim they have not received compensation or adequate consultation.
• Environmental experts warn that the highway could disrupt local biodiversity, limit animal movement, and undermine the Amazon's critical role in global carbon absorption.