BR-319: Brazil’s Manaus-Porto Velho Highway and the Potential Impact of Linking the Arc of Deforestation to Central Amazonia

Abstract

Brazil's BR-319 Highway linked Manaus, in the state of Amazonas, to Porto Velho, Rondônia, until it became impassable in 1988. Now it is proposed for reconstruction and paving, which would facilitate migration from the "Arc of Deforestation" in the southern part of the Amazon region to new frontiers farther north. The purpose of the highway, which is to facilitate transport to São Paulo of products from factories in the Manaus Free Trade Zone, would be better served by sending the containers by ship to the port of Santos. The lack of a land connection to Manaus currently represents a significant barrier to migration to central and northern Amazonia. Discourse regarding the highway systematically overestimates the highway's benefits and underestimates its impacts. A variety of changes would be needed prior to paving the highway if these potential impacts are to be attenuated. These include zoning, reserve creation, and increased governance in various forms, including deforestation licensing and control programs. More fundamental changes are also needed, especially the abandonment of the long-standing tradition in Brazil of granting squatters' rights to those who invade public land. Organizing Amazonian occupation in such a way that road construction and improvement cease to lead to explosive and uncontrolled deforestation should be a prerequisite for approval of the BR-319 and other road projects for which major impacts are expected. These projects could provide the impetus that is needed to achieve the transition away from appropriation of public land by both small squatters and by grileiros (large-scale illegal claimants). A delay in reconstructing the highway is advisable until appropriate changes can be effected.

Effects of isolation and environmental variables on fish community structure in the Brazilian Amazon Madeira-Purus interfluve

“…Development policies for the region provided and planned by the Federal Government, such as those related to the opening and paving of roads, waterways, and the building dams and pipelines, underestimate the associated social and environmental impacts on the region (Fearnside and Graça, 2006). Small streams in forest environments are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of human occupation (Dias et al, 2009), and thus, this study also aims to contribute to decision making regarding the conservation of aquatic and terrestrial environments in this region.…”

Using fuzzy cognitive maps to describe current system dynamics and develop land cover scenarios: a case study in the Brazilian Amazon

“…Although some authors argue that roads are the main cause of deforestation and forest fragmentation (Laurance, Albernaz, Fearnside, Vasconcelos, and Ferreira 2004;Arima, Walker, Sales, Souza, and Perz 2008), others claim that roads play a synergic role with other location factors and cause less impact when appropriate enforcement is applied (Soares-Filho et al 2004;Câmara et al 2005;Fearnside and Graca 2006). For the cases where the literature was inconclusive, we argue that the most recent publications applied to Rondônia at the regional scale represent the most significant insights.…”

Desmatamento na Amazônia: dinâmica, impactos e controle

“…Além da repressão ao desmatamento em áreas onde o desmatamento já é bem avançado em propriedades privadas, decisões de governo terão grande efeito sobre a taxa de desmatamento regional quando obras de infra-estrutura de transporte forem aprovadas e construídas. O estudo de impacto ambiental (EIA/RIMA), exigido para projetos de rodovia desde 1986, ainda está sendo testado quando a pressão é grande para reconstrução de rodovias, como no caso da rodovia BR-319 (Fearnside & Graça, 2006). Até agora, estes estudos não refletem os impactos principais de projetos que são o custo ambiental do desmatamento que estende além das rotas de rodovias e o aumento de migração para áreas novas quando o acesso ficar mais fácil (Fearnside, 2002).…”