A trip down the road that will determine the fate of the Amazon
The BR-319 runs through a largely untouched stretch of the rainforest. A new initiative to pave it could put the Amazon and the global climate at risk.
Carlos Santos, a truck driver on the BR-319, described the road as a "survival test in the jungle." The 540-mile dirt highway, located in Brazil's Amazonas state, connects the region to the rest of the country. Santos recounted his experiences on the 319, from navigating mud pools and potholes to witnessing wildlife crossing the road.
He began driving the road at 18 years old and currently works for Bemol, a major retailer in the Amazon region. The BR-319 is the only road linking Amazonas, home to 4.2 million people, to the rest of Brazil. Asphalting the highway is a long-standing demand of locals, who feel their isolation hinders economic development. However, environmental concerns arise as paving the road could lead to deforestation and exacerbate climate change.
Indigenous groups also express concerns about the project's threat to their communities. Santos, now 45, enjoys the challenge of driving the BR-319 despite its difficulties, while acknowledging the broader implications of road-building in the Amazon.
Written by urgent.news from Grist's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
