COP30: hectares of Amazon Rainforest felled to build a highway

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The construction of a new four-lane motorway, called Avenida Liberdade, 13 km (8 miles) long, is raising strong environmental and social concerns in Brazil. The project crosses a vast area of protected Amazon rainforest near Belém, capital of the state of Pará, where the COP30 climate summit will be held this November. A investigation by the BBC released some images of the highway, which is intended to improve access to the city centre from the east. According to Carbon Pulse's calculations, the construction of a motorway of this size will require the deforestation of around 300 hectares of forest, further exacerbating the environmental crisis in the region.

Initially conceived in 2012 to relieve urban traffic congestion, the project was repeatedly suspended due to environmental concerns. However, with the approach of the COP30, which will be held from 10 to 21 November 2025, state authorities have decided to resume work, incorporating the motorway into a broader infrastructure plan that also includes the construction of new hotels, convention centres and the expansion of the local airport. The construction of the highway has already resulted in the destruction of a significant portion of rainforest, prompting strong criticism from environmentalists and local communities. The main concerns relate to the loss of biodiversity, fragmentation of habitats and the increase in illegal deforestation. Furthermore, indigenous and rural communities that depend on the forest for their livelihoods - such as those engaged in the harvesting of açaí berries - are seeing their sources of income reduced.

The authorities of Pará present the motorway as a sustainable mobility infrastructure, announcing the integration of crossings for the wildlife, solar lighting and bicycle lanes. However, many experts believe that these measures cannot compensate for the devastating ecological impact of the deforestation required to build the road. The project highlights a strong contradiction: while COP30 aims to promote forest conservation and the fight against climate change, its preparation is paradoxically contributing to the destruction of one of the most crucial areas for the ecological stability of the planet. This raises questions about the coherence of environmental policies and the need to strike a balance between infrastructural development and environmental conservation.

A study conducted by Brazilian scientists, published in Nature Sustainability, revealed that between 2010 and 2020, some 186,000 hectares of forest will be cleared across the region. To this must be added the hectares of Amazonian Forest felled for the construction of this highway: locals, interviewed by the media, recounted that this has already had an impact on their lives, for example with the loss of crops. Moreover, all this poses a serious threat to the precious biodiversity of the affected Amazon area. Researchers, as reported in La Repubblica, also fear that the new highway could fragment the ecosystem by disrupting the movement of wildlife. In addition, the new infrastructure risks restricting access to springs and waterways for animals.

This article has been realised within the project "Biodiversity services EU expansion" (CUP: E43D22000480009) in the framework of the Lombardy Region's call for tenders "PR FESR 2021-2027 - LINEA INTERNAZIONALIZZAZIONE 21-27", aimed at supporting the internationalisation of Italian companies. 3Bee is the naturetech company that develops innovative technologies for monitoring, protecting and regenerating biodiversity, supporting companies in defining customised climate strategies based on the analysis of their impacts and dependencies on nature. With an established portfolio in Italy, Germany and France and prominent partnerships, 3Bee continues its expansion into international markets to create real impact through technology.