Human Rights – Page 3

Alarming Increase in Cancer-Linked Pesticides Associate with UK Food Imports

Monica Piccinini

11 December 2024

According to a new analysis by Pesticide Action Network (PAN UK), food brought into Great Britain contains a far higher concentration of pesticides linked to cancer than domestically grown produce.

Recent UK government testing revealed 46 cancer-associated pesticides on imported food, compared to just 19 found on homegrown items, raising serious concerns about the safety of the food on our plates.

Imported foods had two to three times more “developmental or reproductive toxins” (which can affect sexual health and fertility) and neurotoxins (which harm the nervous system) compared to UK-grown food. Imported foods also had more than twice the number of endocrine disrupting chemicals (29 compared to 12), which can mess with hormone systems and cause health issues like cancer and birth defects.

Recent findings revealed that while five PFAS “forever chemicals” were detected in UK-grown food, the number spiked to 12 in imported products. These chemicals, known for their persistence in the environment and the human body, are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they accumulate in blood, bones, and tissue, remaining for years.

PFAS exposure has been linked to numerous serious health risks, including a heightened risk of cancers and a weakened immune system, making it harder for the body to fight off infections. This troubling increase in their presence in food highlights the urgent need for more stringent controls on food imports and pesticide use.

Nick Mole, PAN UK’s policy officer, mentioned:

“While the results for UK produce are also concerning, when it comes to pesticides that pose a risk to consumer health, imports tend to be far worse than food grown here in the UK. The imported food tested by the government contained almost three times the number of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs), including carcinogens, endocrine disruptors and neurotoxins.

“With rates of diseases such as cancer and Parkinson’s on the rise, we should be doing everything we can to reduce our chemical exposure. But the UK government is allowing larger amounts of chemicals to appear in an ever-growing list of common food items. They urgently need to reverse this current trend,” he added.

PAN UK’s annual “Dirty Dozen” report, which reveals the fruits and vegetables most likely to be contaminated with multiple pesticides, has just been released. This year’s top contender is soft citrus fruits like satsumas, tangerines, and clementines. Alarmingly, some of these food items contain residues from up to 12 different pesticides. Yet, government safety regulations still only account for the risks of individual chemicals, ignoring the fact that pesticide mixtures, the “cocktail effect”, can be far more dangerous than a single chemical.

The UK government tested 917 samples of domestically grown, non-animal origin food, with 286 (31%) found to contain multiple residues. Additionally, 1,046 samples of imported non-animal origin food were tested, and 577 (55%) contained multiple residues.

Imported produce was three times more likely to exceed the UK’s legal pesticide limits. Indian beans were the most problematic, with 10 of 25 samples testing positive for illegal residue levels. As the UK negotiates a trade deal with India, food imports from there are expected to rise.

“We’ve long been concerned that new trade deals signed by the UK since EU exit pose a major risk to the health of British consumers. This is especially true when it comes to countries like India that struggle with high pesticide residues in their food exports.

“There are major questions over whether British border controls are robust enough to detect food imports contaminated with pesticides and prevent them from reaching our plates. And yet, when we’ve pointed out these risks to the UK government, they refuse to take them seriously. Given that today’s findings are based on imports that have already made it past our borders, we strongly urge the government to take action to protect British consumers,” said Mole.

Device in hand measuring pesticides on market vegetables and fruits. Photo credit: ID 208941092 © Anastasiia Soloveva | Dreamstime.com

The presence of 48 pesticides banned in the UK on imported food gives foreign growers an unfair advantage, as they can use cheaper, dangerous chemicals that British farmers are forbidden to use. These pesticides, including cancer-linked carbaryl and diazinon, pose significant health and environmental risks.

Even more concerning, the bee-killing pesticide imidacloprid, banned in the UK since 2018, was found on imported potatoes, peas, and grapes, further threatening both human health and biodiversity.

Mole issued a powerful warning about the grave consequences of permitting banned toxic pesticides in UK food imports:

“By allowing banned pesticides in our imports, the UK is exporting its environmental and human health footprint abroad. Farmworkers and wildlife in countries where our food is grown are exposed to these dangerous chemicals and will suffer the associated harms. It also undermines British farmers at a time when we are asking them to produce more sustainably.

“But any drop in British pesticide standards will be a major problem for trade with the EU, which could also devastate UK farming. If the government is serious about protecting British consumers and supporting our farmers, it can kill two birds with one stone by not allowing food imports grown using pesticides banned for use domestically to enter Great Britain.”

Exploiting Brazil’s Biodiversity: Who Profits from its Genetic Resources?

Monica Piccinini

9 December 2024

At the COP16 UN biodiversity summit in Colombia, the role of genetic heritage in shaping Brazil’s bioeconomy was a central theme. Brazil’s genetic resources and traditional knowledge are vital for generating economic value, with the government keen on exploring opportunities to monetise these assets.

How will genetic resources drive the development of new technologies, and what negative impacts could emerge? What ethical considerations are at stake, and most importantly, who will truly benefit?

Brazil’s Biodiversity

With over 20% of the world’s species, Brazil is home to more than 46,000 plant species and 129,000 animals spread across six biomes, including the Amazon rainforest, Pantanal, Cerrado, and the Atlantic Forest.

Henry Philippe Ibanez de Novion, director of Brazil’s genetic heritage department of the ministry of environment and climate change (MMA), spoke about the value of Brazil’s biodiversity and traditional communities during a webinar hosted by the Brazilian Embassy in Berlin in September:

“According to the intergovernmental science-policy platform on biodiversity and ecosystem services (IPBES), 80% of the biodiversity that is still conserved is found in the territory of these peoples (traditional communities). The traditional knowledge and sustainable practices of these people allow biodiversity to be protected.”

Brazil’s rich biodiversity makes it a prime target for biopiracy, the unlawful exploitation and commercialisation of natural resources and traditional knowledge for profit, without the consent of authorities or traditional communities. This illegal practice not only harms the communities dependent on these resources, but also disturbs the delicate balance of plant and animal life. The most sought-after species are Amazonian frogs, macaws, snakes, and spiders.

Global companies have been collecting genetic material from plants and animals in biodiverse countries like Brazil, patenting it without recognising the rights of local communities. As a result, these communities are left out of any benefits, whether economic, health-related, or social.

In Brazil, foreign researchers often gather plant and animal samples for study and take them overseas. These samples are then used in research and turned into products like medicines, clothing, cosmetics, food, furniture, paper, insecticides, among others.

A study published in the journal World Patent Information found that 92% of patents related to Atlantic Forest plants were developed and filed outside of Brazil, primarily by China, the United States, Japan, and Korea. At least 1,258 patent applications are focused on sectors such as agriculture and livestock, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, food and beverages, and waste treatment.

By 2022, Brazil’s national institute of industrial property (INPI) had recorded 43,400 patents for innovations using Amazonian plants filed worldwide. China topped the list with 18,965 applications, followed by the USA with 3,778.

The patenting of products made from Amazonian genetic resources without fairly sharing the benefits with local communities or respecting their rights, raises serious concerns.

Some experts argue that Brazil has not adopted a stronger industrial intellectual property policy or increased investment in research, development, and technology, which has made the country more reliant on others. For example, about 90% of the active pharmaceutical ingredients used in Brazil are imported. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies worldwide have been earning large profits from open access to genetic heritage data.

Brazil’s Biopiracy Legacy

The first case of biopiracy in Brazil dates to the 16th century during Portuguese colonisation, when brazilwood (pau-brasil) was extracted and sold to Europe for use in furniture making and fabric dyeing.

In the 19th century, Brazil became the world’s leading producer of latex from rubber trees. In 1876, British explorer and botanist Henry Wickham smuggled over 70,000 seeds from Brazil to England, where they were transported to Malaysia. This led to the establishment of rubber tree plantations in Malaysia, disrupting Brazil’s dominance in the rubber market.

In 1962, Brazilian scientist Sergio Ferreira discovered the bradykinin-potentiating factor (BFP) in the venom of the Bothrops snake (jararaca). This discovery led to the development of captopril, a hypertension drug, by the American pharmaceutical company Squibb, generating billions in revenue for the industry.

Another case of biopiracy involved cupuaçu, a fruit used in the production of chocolate (cupulate). In the early 2000s, Japanese company Asahi Foods Co Ltd. patented the fruit in Japan and Europe. The patent was later revoked after Brazilian authorities and national mobilisation challenged it, ensuring cupuaçu remained a Brazilian product.

In 2000, the BioAmazônia research centre entered into an agreement with Novartis laboratory to collect bacteria from Brazil’s biodiversity for research in Switzerland. The contract granted the pharmaceutical company the right to manipulate, license, and sell compounds derived from Brazil’s genetic resources. This sparked a national and international controversy, prompting the Brazilian government to suspend the contract and enact law MP 2.186/2001, which established regulations on access to the country’s genetic heritage.

Patent and Genetic Resources Registration Requirements in Brazil

In Brazil, patent applications for cosmetics, medicines, ointments, and foods derived from substances extracted from the country’s flora and fauna are subject to special screening by the national institute of industrial property (INPI).

The genetic heritage management council (CGen) was established in 2015 under Law 13,123 and is chaired by the ministry of the environment. CGen is responsible for developing and enforcing regulations on the use of genetic resources, ensuring that traditional communities are properly compensated.

The national system for the management of genetic heritage and associated traditional knowledge (SisGen) was created in 2016 by Law 13,123 as a tool to assist CGen in managing genetic heritage and related traditional knowledge. SisGen is operated and maintained by CGen, and any access to Brazilian genetic heritage or associated traditional knowledge must be registered in this system.

Multilateral Agreements and Ongoing Concerns

The Nagoya Protocol, an international agreement adopted in 2010, seeks to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the use of genetic resources. It came into force on 12 October 2014, with 142 countries, including Brazil, as signatories.

In May, a diplomatic conference on genetic resources and traditional knowledge, organised by the world intellectual property organisation (WIPO), led to the approval of a new treaty by 190 countries. This treaty mandates that patent applications based on genetic resources and/or traditional knowledge must disclose, at the time of filing, the country of origin, the original source of these resources, and the indigenous peoples or local communities that contributed the knowledge.

There have been multiple efforts to reach a consensus on the distribution of benefits from the use of digital sequence information (DSI) – a practice where genetic data is digitised, stored, and shared in open-access online databases for researchers and companies. This issue was a central topic at COP16.

Some of the technologies that use DSI commercially include industrial, medical, agriculture, DNA barcoding, and synthetic biology (designing synthetic genes using AI-powered programmes).

In an interview to NGO Instituto Escolhas in February, Novion spoke about some issues concerning DSI:

“Anyone who develops products or processes from sequences available in digital databases, without knowing their origin, will have difficulty knowing what legal framework they are linked to, which makes it impossible for the user (company or researcher) to seek their regularity and thus provide legal security for their result, be it a publication, a patent or a product. The use of this sequence therefore falls into a legal limbo.

“Another layer of complexity arises from the fact that, today, we do not use just a single sequence, from a single genetic resource, from a single country. And addressing this form of use without making it unviable is the greatest challenge we will have to face, both in Brazil and internationally, particularly in relation to shared or cosmopolitan sequences and genetic resources,” he added.

A proposal from the ad hoc open-ended working group on benefit-sharing from the use of DSI on genetic resources suggests that countries accessing this material should contribute to a voluntary and not legally binding mechanism, a global fund (Cali Fund), to conserve biodiversity and compensate traditional communities. Some advocate for contributions based on a percentage of revenue from products that utilise DSI, while others propose a fixed 1% of revenue generated by these companies.

However, many questions remain unanswered, such as how benefit-sharing would function in practice, the equitable distribution of funds, storage architecture, who holds the rights to the data, who owns the technology (intellectual property rights), how to trace the origin of digitalised genetic resources, how would products deriving from novel synthetic DSI fit in, determining if DSI is naturally occurring or the product of synthetic biology or even AI, and the possibility of a negative outcome and ethical concerns related to the application of AI to synthetic biology.

Additionally, what is the significance of traditional knowledge in the context of DSI, and how will this multilateral mechanism incorporate the principles of consultation, consent, and benefit-sharing with Indigenous communities? Why have traditional communities been excluded from the decision-making process? What are the steps and process involved in ensuring these benefits reach the traditional communities?

Is this simply another tool to control, exploit, and profit from the world’s most biodiverse regions? And who will truly benefit in the end?

BR-319: A Highway to Climate Chaos in the Heart of the Amazon

Monica Piccinini

20 November 2024

As Brazil prepares to host the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP30, the Brazilian government is sending a powerful message about its commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable development. Central to this message is the protection of the Amazon rainforest, vital to the planet’s ecological balance. Yet, a controversial project hangs over these declarations: the planned Amazon’s BR-319 highway, a proposal that has sparked intense debate over its potential to disrupt one of Earth’s most critical ecosystems.

The reconstruction of the Amazon BR-319 highway in Brazil, connecting Manaus, the capital of Amazonas, to Porto Velho, on the southern edge of the forest, cutting through one of the most preserved blocks of the rainforest, could trigger a climate crisis chain reaction with severe irreversible impacts on the Amazon, Brazil and the entire planet.

Although the Brazilian government promotes the BR-319 project as essential for regional economic development, it represents one of the most significant threats to the Amazon’s survival. This project endangers at least half of Brazil’s remaining rainforest, putting 69 Indigenous communities, 64 Indigenous territories, and over 18,000 Indigenous people at risk.

Map of Indigenous lands and communities impacted by Brazil’s BR-319 Highway. Reference: Ferrante et al., 2020.

During a visit to Amazonas in September, Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, showed his commitment and full support for the reconstruction of the BR-319 highway by saying, “this road will now begin to be built.”

“BR-319 is a necessity for the state of Amazonas, it is a necessity for Roraima, and a necessity for Brazil,” he added

Lula’s ambition to lead on the climate agenda appears to conflict with his own policies and actions.

Philip Fearnside, a senior researcher at Brazil’s National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), and Nobel peace prize winner, mentioned:

“In Manaus, every politician supports the reconstruction of the BR-319 highway – on the condition that the federal government, and by extension, the 99% of taxpayers who live outside Manaus, foots the bill. After more than two decades of consistent misinformation about the project, nearly the entire local population now favours it, and questioning the initiative would be political suicide for any candidate.

“Repaving the BR-319 highway would link the relatively undisturbed central Amazon to the AMACRO region – a deforestation hotspot named after the states of Amazonas, Acre, and Rondônia. Although AMACRO is promoted as a sustainable development zone (ZDS), it has become a major driver of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest,” he added.

The BR-319, an 885-km highway, was inaugurated in 1976 during Brazil’s military dictatorship, but was abandoned in 1988. In 2015, under Dilma Rousseff’s government, a maintenance program was launched to revive the highway. Since then, various governments have made multiple attempts to reconstruct a 406-km section of the highway.

Catastrophic and Irreversible Consequences

The fishbone effect results from the opening of illegal branches on both sides of the BR-319 highway, created by land grabbers. This phenomenon is already unfolding around the highway, with over 6,000 km of illegal extensions, which is more than six times the length of BR-319. Furthermore, proposed roads along BR-319, such as the AM-366, would provide deforesters with access to a vast area of rainforest in the Trans-Purus region, west of BR-319.

Brazilian Amazonia and Highway BR-319 (Manaus-Porto Velho). Source: map produced by researcher Lucas Ferrante in the ArcGIS software, deforestation data from INPE 2021.

The reconstruction of the BR-319 highway could lead to catastrophic and irreversible consequences, including widespread deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and environmental degradation. It may also fuel an increase in illicit activities such as organised crime, illegal logging, mining, and encroachment on Indigenous lands. Furthermore, the risk of zoonotic leaps and the emergence of new pandemics could rise. These impacts could push the rainforest beyond its ability to survive, causing it to cease functioning as a carbon sink and disrupting its role as a regional and global climate regulator.

Lucas Ferrante, researcher at the University of Sao Paulo (USP) and Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM), discussed the critical role of flying rivers in climate regulation:

“In this forest region, a crucial environmental ecosystem service occurs, known as flying rivers, plays a crucial role in regulating Brazil’s climate. Moisture from the Atlantic Ocean is carried into the continent through the North region, where it enters the Amazon. Evapotranspiration from the preserved forest generates high-pressure systems that produce rainfall, which then travels southward, supplying water to the southeast, central-west, and southern regions of Brazil.

“For instance, 70% of the rainfall that supplies the Cantareira system – responsible for providing water to São Paulo, the most densely populated area in South America – originates from this forested region. However, deforestation along BR-319 poses a serious threat to these flying rivers, and continued destruction could lead to devastating consequences for the entire country.

“We will face severe water shortages in densely populated regions, leading to the death of the most vulnerable populations, industrial disruptions, and devastating impacts on agriculture, rendering these areas uninhabitable. Essentially, the collapse of the flying rivers will trigger the breakdown of the country’s economic sectors, potentially causing annual losses of up to $ 500 billion (R$3 trillion),” Ferrante warned.

Wildfires, Drought, and Disease

*Brazilian Amazon Forest burning to open space for pasture. Credit: ID 69667961 @ André Costa | Dreamstime.com*

A survey by MapBiomas‘ Fire Monitor reveals that from January to September this year, Brazil saw 22.38 million hectares burn, marking an increase of 13.4 million hectares compared to 2023. This represents a 150% rise from the previous year. Over half of the burned area (51%, or 11.3 million hectares) occurred in the Amazon.

Commenting on the fires in the Amazon and across Brazil, Ferrante stated:

“It’s crucial to recognise that Brazil has surpassed its greenhouse gas emissions targets, with the highest levels originating from the Amazon due to widespread fires in the biome.”

The fires and drought in the Amazon are expected to worsen due to climate change and other factors, including the rampant expansion of agribusiness, particularly cattle farming, both legal and illegal mining, logging, and large-scale biofuel production – especially with the recent biofuel mandate increase announced by Lula. This is further intensified by Lula’s push to extract “every last drop” of oil. The BR-319 highway plays a central role in facilitating these developments in the region.

The Amazon rainforest is recognised as one of the largest reservoirs of zoonotic diseases. Scientists consistently warn that reconstructing the BR-319 highway, in conjunction with climate change, will accelerate forest degradation driven by agribusiness expansion, mining, oil and gas exploration, illicit activities, and infrastructure projects. This would lead to increased human mobility and urbanisation, heightening the risk of zoonotic spillovers -diseases stored in the forest potentially jumping to humans, which could trigger a global pandemic or a series of them.

Deforestation along the BR-319 has already resulted in a 400% increase in malaria cases in the region, highlighting the potential environmental damage caused by this project and its role in the emergence of a new global pandemic.

An article in Nature reported that the western Brazilian Amazon is facing its largest confirmed outbreak of the Oropouche virus (OROV), with over 6,300 cases recorded between 2022 and 2024. Researchers identified a novel genetic variant of the virus and highlighted fragmented forest landscapes and vegetation loss caused by deforestation and expanding agricultural activities as significant factors driving its transmission. Most OROV-positive cases in 2022–2023 were concentrated in the AMACRO region, a hotspot for deforestation.

“Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest and other tropical regions increase the risk of emergence of new human diseases by increasing contact between rainforest wildlife and the human population and its domestic animals. It also contributes to climate change, which can create conditions favouring the emergence of parasitic, fungal, viral, and bacterial infections,” explained Fearnside.

Profit Driven

*Deforested and burned area long the middle stretch of BR-319 highway. Credit: Lucas Ferrante.*

The BR-319 highway will serve an expanding range of national and international industries, particularly those focused on the significant profits that a ‘bioeconomy’ can generate. Additionally, it will play a crucial role in facilitating oil and gas exploration in the region, including Petrobras’ operations along the equatorial margin, a project that has the full backing of Lula.

Russian oil and gas company Rosneft will also benefit from the BR-319 project, as it holds drilling rights to 14 oil and gas blocks situated west of the highway, around 35 km from the Purus River, within the Solimões Sedimentary Basin. This pristine area is larger than the state of California.

Other sectors would also gain from the BR-319 project, such as the expansion of agribusiness, cattle farming, both legal and illegal mining, logging, and organised crime.

Ferrante elaborated on how BR-319 is facilitating the expansion of agribusiness, cattle farming, and mining:

“BR-319 is accelerating the growth of agribusiness in the region, especially on unallocated public lands (‘terras devolutas’). Soybean farmers from Mato Grosso do Sul are migrating to Rondônia, purchasing land from livestock farmers who, in turn, are moving south of Amazonas within the BR-319 corridor. These lands are often occupied illegally, either through land grabbing, illegal deforestation, or violent eviction of traditional communities.

“Since 2023, Manaus has experienced a rise in smoke levels during the dry season, primarily due to forest fires spreading along the newly paved sections of BR-319, where cattle farming is rapidly expanding. The presence of asphalt accelerates deforestation, and fires are commonly used to clear land for pasture.

“Moreover, there is a well-documented connection between land grabbers and organized crime along BR-319. Criminal groups seize land, expelling legitimate owners and traditional communities, and often use the profits to force these displaced communities into labour in illegal mining operations.”

Smokescreen

Supporters of the BR-319 project, including politicians, corporations, and individuals, have presented various justifications for the highway’s reconstruction, citing the ongoing drought in the region. However, Ferrante points out that despite the drought, the Madeira River remains navigable. Furthermore, the BR-319 does not connect to any of the municipalities impacted by the drought, as they are located across the Rio Negro.

The Madeira River has long been the primary transportation route in the region, running parallel to the BR-319 highway, and offering a safer, cleaner, and more cost-effective means of transporting goods.

Rodrigo Agostinho, president of Brazil’s environmental protection agency, Ibama, told AmazoniaReal on November 14 that without good governance, the BR-319 project could become a “major deforestation front.” He further noted that those who construct a road do not take on responsibility for managing the surrounding area, which remains a highly contentious issue.

(A) Deforestation along BR-319 highway from 1988 to 2020 (PRODES data). Deforestation in red represents cumulative deforestation from 1988 to 2014 before the highway “maintenance” program began. Deforestation in purple represents cumulative deforestation from 2015 to 2020 (i.e., during the “maintenance” program). (B) Points with land grabbing, illegal logging, illegal mineral prospecting and illegal land sales observed on BR-319 highway. The inset map of South America shows Brazil’s “Amazon Biome” region in green, Highway BR319 as a black line, and the area of the larger map as a red rectangle. Image provided by researcher Lucas Ferrante.

The Brazilian government continues to advocate for governance along the BR-319, with support from a few NGOs backed by an international philanthropic organisation. These groups, however, refuse to oppose the BR-319 project.

Meanwhile, members of the Brazilian federal police and army have made it clear that any future governance scenario is unrealistic, as the inspection bodies would lack the necessary resources to monitor the area due to its vast size, complexity, and danger. Organised crime already controls land grabbing and mining in the region, which has had a devastating impact on traditional communities.

Who stands to benefit from the BR-319 project? The primary beneficiaries are those financing illicit activities, such as illegal mining and organised crime, as well as the expansion of agribusiness, large-scale biofuel production, cattle farming, oil and gas exploration, and the development of a “bioeconomy.” These highly profitable ventures are financed by both national and international stakeholders.

“The 2009 environmental impact assessment (EIA) indicated that business leaders did not view this project as a priority for Manaus’s industrial hub. In the years following, the unanimous political support for the project naturally prompted businesspeople to adopt the same position, given their reliance on political backing.

“However, academic studies assessing the project’s feasibility have found it to be economically unjustifiable. Notably, it remains the only major project in Brazil without an official economic feasibility study (EVTEA), which is unlikely to be a coincidence,” mentioned Fearnside.

The reconstruction of the BR-319 highway lacks the required economic feasibility study (EVTEA) mandated by Law 5917/1973, and has failed to conduct crucial consultations with Indigenous communities, as stipulated by both the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 169 and Brazilian Law 10.088/2019, making the BR-319 project unconstitutional.

Following Ferrante’s presentation at the ministry of the environment on October 29 highlighting the negative impacts of the BR-319 project, he is calling the suspension of all licenses and tenders until consultations are held with all affected Indigenous communities.

Additionally, he urges the suspension of the maintenance license for the entire highway due to significant environmental harm already inflicted by the national department of transport infrastructure (DNIT) on ecosystems, streams, and traditional communities. He further requests the removal of the illegal branches, and the expropriation of all areas occupied along the BR-319 highway since 2008.

Brazil’s Biofuel Boom: Green Growth or Greenwashing?

Monica Piccinini

7 November 2024

Brazil’s push to expand biofuels is central to its strategy to “drive the decarbonisation agenda” and build a robust “bioeconomy,” setting the stage for this to become a major focus at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP 30) in Brazil in November 2025.

During a ceremony at the Brasilia Air Base in October, president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared:

“Brazil will lead the world’s energy revolution”

This statement came as he signed the Fuel of the Future Law, a set of initiatives aimed at advancing the country’s bioenergy sector. Lula added:

“Brazil will get a head start because you, the entrepreneurs, who have the capacity to produce, to research. Enacting this law demonstrates that none of us have the right to continue disbelieving that this country can be a large economy.”

Lula announced a rise in ethanol blending with gasoline from 22% to 27%, with a target of 35% by 2030. Biodiesel blending, currently at 14%, will increase by one percentage point annually, aiming to reach 20% by March 2030.

Biofuel mandates have generated a relentless demand for crops, including sugarcane, corn, soybean, and palm oil.

Ethanol and biodiesel production in Brazil reached nearly 43 billion litres in 2023, according to the 2024 Brazilian Statistical Yearbook on Oil, Natural Gas, and Biofuels, published by Brazil’s National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels (ANP).

In Brazil, biofuels make up 25% of transportation fuels – a remarkably high share compared to other nations – and this proportion is still increasing. Bioethanol leads the biofuel sector, representing an average of 49% in terms of energy of the total gasoline and ethanol consumption.

Jorge Ernesto Rodriguez Morales, lecturer and researcher in environmental policy and climate change governance at the Department of Economic History and International Relations at Stockholm University, mentioned:

“Historically, Brazilian energy policy has achieved significant success, largely due to the development of the oil industry alongside biofuels and other energy sources. This diversification has enabled Brazil to rely less on energy imports from the global market, fostering a degree of energy independence and security critical for economic stability.

“By reducing dependence on external energy sources, Brazil’s economy is less vulnerable to external shocks, such as fluctuations in oil and gas prices. Sugarcane ethanol, in particular, has been pivotal in these developments, positioning bioenergy – a renewable energy form derived from recently living organic materials known as biomass – at the forefront of national strategies to combat climate change,” he added.

Green Sheen

Although bioenergy has been promoted as a climate strategy, there is ongoing debate within the scientific community regarding the actual sustainability of biofuel production.

Some scientists argue that the production of biofuels is an energy-negative process that may lead to various socio-environmental consequences. These include rising food prices that threaten food security and the conversion of forestlands for biofuel cultivation. Some state that presenting bioenergy as a climate strategy has served as a justification for the industry’s expansion in Brazil and globally.

“Despite its success, the biofuels industry in Brazil developed within broader developmental and territorial security goals, often placing significant pressure on ecosystems and communities in an institutional environment that generally overlooked socio-environmental concerns.

“This unsustainable co-evolution of development pathways and bioenergy – marked by deforestation, land colonization, and agricultural expansion – has limited the adaptation space in agriculture. As a result, current climate policy is largely oriented toward path-dependent and potentially maladaptive strategies, such as relying on sugarcane ethanol for transportation,” explained Morales.

A report by the Royal Society raises concerns about expanding biofuel production, highlighting issues such as the impact on food prices, the potential rise in greenhouse gas emissions due to direct and indirect land use changes (LUC) associated with biofuel feedstock production, and the risks of land, forest, water resource, and ecosystem degradation.

The Royal Society report recommends comprehensive auditing of biofuel supply chains as essential, along with enhancing transparency, data availability, and sharing. These elements are crucial for ensuring that the life cycle assessment (LCA) of biofuels is reliable and beneficial for policymaking.

The use of feedstocks like sugarcane, palm oil, corn, and soybean – predominant in Brazil – has sparked significant controversy, primarily due to competition with food production and concerns about converting agricultural land into fuel production. Rising demand for agricultural products poses a risk of increased deforestation and the use of land with high biodiversity value to satisfy this demand, along with related freshwater consumption.

The EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) identifies soybean as one of the world’s leading drivers of deforestation. Trade interests appear to be the main barrier to removing soy biofuels from the Renewable Energy Directive, as Europe imports nearly 90% of its soy for biodiesel production from Brazil, Argentina, and the United States.

Dr David Pimentel, a professor of ecology and agricultural sciences at Cornell University, asserted that there is insufficient land, water, and energy available for biofuel production. He also highlighted environmental issues associated with converting crops into biofuels, such as water pollution from fertilisers and pesticides, air pollution, soil erosion, and contributions to global warming.

Pimentel conducted calculations that accounted for all the inputs needed to produce ethanol, including machinery, seeds, labour, water, electricity, fertilisers, insecticides, herbicides, fuel, drying, and transportation. He found that producing one litre of fuel-grade ethanol (5,130 kcal) requires an energy input of 6,600 kcal, indicating that biofuel production is an energy-negative process.

A report published in the Biofuel journal states that measuring greenhouse gas emissions linked to ethanol fuel should account for emissions at every stage, including production, processing, distribution, and vehicle use. This comprehensive assessment is known as the core “well-to-wheels LCA emissions, along with any additional emissions resulting from LUC.

Morales discussed some of the impacts of implementing a climate policy that relies on biomass fuels:

“Current climate policy positions biomass-based fuels as a replacement for fossil fuels in the transport sector, with sugarcane ethanol as a flagship solution for greenhouse gas reduction in international climate negotiations. However, scaling up bioenergy production can have serious socio-environmental impacts.

“Like food production, ethanol requires land, water, and nutrients, meaning that a large-scale expansion could intensify the negative side effects of agricultural growth. These include significant socio-environmental challenges related to sustainable development goals, such as deforestation (SDG 15), CO2 emissions from land-use change (SDG 13), nitrogen losses (SDGs 13, 14, 15), unsustainable water withdrawals (SDG 14), and food security risks (SDG 2), among others,” he added.

Biofuel Policies

Postage stamp printed in Brazil shows Ethanol, Alternative Energy serie, circa 1980.
Credit: ID 235489969 © Alexander Mirt | Dreamstime.com

During Brazil’s colonial period (1500-1822), sugarcane plantations established the basis for political power through land monopoly and slavery. Policies were implemented to promote the economic interests of the agribusiness sector.

In response to the energy and sugar crisis of the 70s, Brazil launched a national ethanol program called “Pró-Álcool” in 1975. This initiative included tax breaks, subsidies, and lower financing costs to benefit the sugarcane industry, including producers, planters, distillers, and the automotive sector.

The “Pró-Álcool” policy led to significant repercussions, such as the exploitation of workers (bóias-frias) and environmental degradation, which the Brazilian government neglected out of concern that environmental regulations might hinder economic growth and development.

From 1992 to 2004, while Brazil’s total greenhouse gas emissions rose by 80%, the government defended its support for ethanol on environmental grounds, positioning bioenergy as a “sustainable energy source.” This approach framed bioenergy as part of a climate strategy, leading to its promotion at international levels to combat climate change.

However, the socio-environmental impacts of bioenergy production were largely overlooked, including direct and indirect LUC, water and biodiversity loss, deforestation, fertiliser pollution, and soil erosion.

In 2017, the “Renovabio” initiative was launched as a new government program aimed at promoting the growth of the bioenergy sector, with an emphasis on various types of biofuels, such as biodiesel, biomethane, bioethanol, and biokerosene.

A report published in the Biofuels journal indicates that Brazil’s RenovaBio programme does not account for direct or indirect LUC in its emissions calculator, potentially leading to an overestimation of decarbonisation levels and encouraging biofuel production with greater environmental impacts. To ensure the program is environmentally effective and delivers appropriate signals to decision-makers, it is crucial to incorporate LUC parameters into the calculator.

“Brazil’s ethanol diplomacy aims to portray the nation as climate-conscious, using biofuel as leverage in climate negotiations. Many countries have followed Brazil’s ‘successful’ example by integrating bioenergy into their climate policies, even though its social and environmental costs are widely acknowledged,” mentioned Morales.

Biofuel Expansion

Raízen, formed from the merger of Cosan and Shell, along with BP Bunge, Atvos, São Martinho, Tereos, Lincoln Junqueira, Cofco, Coruipe, Adecoagro, Katzen, Millenium, Brasil BioFuels (BBF), and Agropalma, represent some of the leading bioenergy companies in Brazil.

In October, Katzen International, a prominent bioethanol company, announced the successful completion and launch of the INPASA Agroindustrial S/A bioethanol plant expansion project in Sinop, Mato Grosso. This expansion boosted the plant’s production capacity to 2.1 billion litres per year, establishing it as the largest grain-based dry mill bioethanol facility in the world.

Corn ethanol production in Brazil is projected to reach 7.7 billion litres in 2024/25, representing a 20% increase compared to previous years.

The biofuel industry is making significant investments in the state of Pará. Governor Helder Barbalho has announced plans for a biofuel refinery to be established in the municipality of Redenção, located in the southeastern part of the state. A collaboration between the Mafra Group and Companhia Mineira de Açúcar e Álcool (CMAA), which together comprise Grão Pará Bioenergia, will contribute over $350 million to this project.

“These are the agendas that will be challenging for us: the forest agenda, the energy production agenda. These are different agendas in which each one of them can present their solutions,” said Barbalho.

Alongside the refinery, a fattening service for cattle will be provided to partner ranchers, allowing them to use the refinery’s facilities for confining their animals. The primary feedstock for cattle confinement will be Dried Distillers Grain (DDG), a by-product of corn ethanol production.

Conflicts

A report by NGO Imazon revealed that Pará accounted for 57% of the degraded forest areas in the Amazon. Forest degradation surged from 196 km² in September 2023 to 11,558 km² in the same month this year – nearly a 60-fold increase.

The state of Pará, which will host COP30, is marked by conflicts, including those related to the palm oil industry. Palm plantations in Pará cover an area that was once rainforest, approximately 226,834 hectares, nearly equivalent to the size of Luxembourg.

An investigation by the NGO Global Witness revealed that two major Brazilian palm oil companies, Agropalma and Brasil Biofuels (BBF), were implicated in conflicts with local communities in the state of Pará. BBF faced allegations of environmental crimes and violent efforts to suppress indigenous and traditional communities. Meanwhile, Agropalma was associated with community evictions and land grabbing.

A study by scientists Lucas Ferrante and Philip Fearnside revealed that biofuel companies, such as Millenium Bioenergia, are establishing a production chain for biofuels and food products derived from monocultures on Amazonian Indigenous lands and within other traditional communities.

Millenium announced plans to “partner” with Indigenous and traditional communities, proposing unpaid labour to produce corn, fish, chickens, pigs, and confined cattle. This approach not only infringes on human rights but also poses a risk of triggering new pandemics due to zoonotic leaps linked to environmental degradation.

Brazil must expand biofuel production to meet growing demand, which will increase logistical pressures nationwide. Critical to this expansion are infrastructure projects, such as the construction of highways like the Amazon’s BR-319, connecting Manaus to Porto Velho, and the Ferrogrão railway project, linking Sinop in Mato Grosso to the port of Miritituba, situated across the Tapajós River from Itaituba in Pará. These developments are likely to cause irreversible environmental degradation and adversely affect numerous indigenous and traditional communities in these areas.

Morales highlighted the Brazilian government’s position and priorities concerning the expansion of biofuel production:

“In foreign environmental policy, the Brazilian government has historically been reluctant to prioritise environmental protection over economic growth, often attributing major environmental issues to developed countries. Although various administrations have made efforts to address environmental challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change, these issues remain secondary concerns, frequently viewed as obstacles to short-term political and economic goals.

“Positioning bioenergy as a climate strategy has effectively justified broader policies supporting the biofuel industry and contributed to the greenwashing of Brazil’s climate policy on the international stage. Several countries have mirrored Brazil’s approach, adopting bioenergy into their climate agendas in response,” he added.

Brazil’s Indigenous Crisis: Violence and Rising Suicide

Monica Piccinini

17 October 2024

Suicide is a major global public health issue, leading to approximately 700,000 deaths each year. While the global suicide rate decreased by 36% from 2000 to 2019, Brazil saw a dramatic 43% rise in suicide cases during the same period.

A study conducted by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), in collaboration with Harvard University, found that Brazil recorded 147,698 suicides between 2011 and 2022. In 2022, the Indigenous population had the highest rates of self-harm notifications (103.72 per 100,000) and suicides (16.58 deaths per 100,000), compared to the overall population, which reported rates of 70.06 and 7.27 per 100,000, respectively.

Territorial conflicts, the expansion of agribusiness, oil and gas exploration, infrastructure projects, both legal and illegal mining and logging activities, along with discrimination, inequality, climate change, violation of Indigenous rights, inadequate state protection, and lack of permanent policies, are significant contributors to the increasing suicide rates among Indigenous people in Brazil.

Daiane Borges Machado, one of the authors of the Fiocruz study, mentioned:

“Increasing suicide rates among Indigenous communities are deeply rooted in a complex web of systemic challenges. These populations have long been dramatically exposed to violence, territorial disputes, and the expansion of industries like agribusiness, mining, and logging, all of which severely impact Indigenous lands and ways of life. These activities not only threaten physical spaces but also disrupt the social and cultural connections that are vital for well-being.

“Additionally, longstanding issues such as inequality, discrimination, and inadequate state protection highlight the failure to implement effective, permanent policies that safeguard Indigenous rights and health. Addressing these interconnected issues requires a holistic approach, focusing on cultural preservation, sustainable development, and equitable policy implementation.”

Brazil’s Indigenous population exceeds 1.7 million, with more than half living in the Legal Amazon, based on the 2022 Census by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

A report from Brazil’s Indigenous Missionary Council (Cimi) reveals that suicide among Indigenous people in Brazil rose by 56% in 2023, totalling 180 cases compared to 115 the previous year. This data may be underestimated due to flaws in Brazil’s death verification and registration system.

From 2019 to 2022, Brazil recorded a total of 535 suicides among Indigenous people. The highest number of cases occurred in Amazonas (208), followed by Mato Grosso do Sul (131) and Roraima (57). In 2023, Amazonas again had the highest number of suicides (66), followed by Mato Grosso do Sul (37) and Roraima (19). More than a third of all cases, totalling 59, involved individuals aged 19 and younger.

Jacyra Azevedo Paiva de Araujo, one of the authors of the Fiocruz study, stated:

“It is essential to ensure that government agencies are actively engaged, adequately funded, and properly equipped to maintain a strong presence and function effectively in the region. This would help reduce violence, protect Indigenous lands, and lower the risk of suicide. Since suicide risk is closely linked to mental health disorders, providing access to mental health care must be a priority. While Brazil’s public health system offers mental health treatment to the entire population, these services need to be tailored specifically to the needs of Indigenous communities in these areas.”

Jesem Orellana, an epidemiologist at Fiocruz, highlighted that suicide rates among Indigenous populations are associated not only with depression but also with socioeconomic factors such as inequality, economic crises, discrimination, and the decline of Indigenous traditions and practices, including hunting, fishing, and agriculture.

“Suicide is known to be a complex and multicausal phenomenon. However, in indigenous contexts, sociocultural factors associated with the symbolic and cosmological universe or even with the clash between ancestral traditions and antagonistic worldviews, such as Western ones, tend to play an important role in the tragic statistics of indigenous suicide, especially among younger people,” explained Orellana.

Territorial Conflicts and Violence

The invasion of Indigenous lands and territorial disputes continue to be major issues that contribute to the ongoing pressures these communities face. Numerous cases of intimidation, threats, sexual assaults, and violent attacks against Indigenous communities have been reported in Brazil. The states of Roraima, Mato Grosso do Sul and Amazonas have recorded the highest rates of assassinations.

The Cimi report indicates that invasions of Indigenous lands rose by 252% from 2019 to 2022, compared to earlier years. This period also saw an increase in cases of homicide, sexual violence, and death threats against Indigenous people.

The key factors behind the violence against Indigenous communities include the expansion of agribusiness, cattle farming, oil and gas extraction, both legal and illegal mining, fishing, hunting, and logging, as well as infrastructure projects such as road, railway, and dam construction, along with the private appropriation of their territories. Indigenous people frequently feel pressured to leave their land due to concerns for their safety.

Of the 1,381 Indigenous lands and territorial claims in Brazil, 62% are still facing administrative obstacles to their regularisation, with 850 pending resolutions, and 563 having received no action from the state regarding demarcation.

The Brazilian government’s support for expanding oil and gas projects in the Amazon, along with agribusiness, cattle farming, mining, and infrastructure projects like the Ferrogrão railway – linking the port of Miritituba in Pará to Sinop in Mato Grosso – and the recently approved BR-319 highway, is expected to have devastating impacts on the environment and Indigenous communities.

The reconstruction of Amazon’s BR-319 highway, which connects Manaus, the capital of Amazonas, to Porto Velho, will affect 64 Indigenous territories. This project is key for the expansion of agribusiness, oil and gas exploration, illegal mining, logging, and organised crime, all of which will directly threaten Indigenous communities in the region.

In Brazil, Indigenous communities are confronted with a multitude of challenges, frequently left to face life-threatening conditions without sufficient state protection. This lack of support undermines their ability to defend their rights and has driven some to such desperation that they resort to extreme actions, including tragically taking their own lives.

Climate Change and Mining

*Indigenous child from the Asurini tribe of Baixo Amazonas, Rio Xingu, Brazil. Credit: ID 245527629 | Brazil Indigenous © J Brarymi | Dreamstime.com*

Climate change and global warming leads to environmental degradation, posing yet another threat to Indigenous communities. Their livelihoods, dependant on agriculture, fishing, and hunting, have been affected by rising temperatures, droughts, and extreme weather events.

The rise in fires and droughts is pushing Indigenous people to leave their lands and seek work in urban centres. However, they often struggle to find employment, leading to economic difficulties and, at times, an inability to sustain themselves. The lack of job opportunities and a sense of purpose can lead to substance abuse, with drugs and alcohol becoming an escape, often resulting in severe depression and, tragically, sometimes suicide.

Illegal mining is a critical issue affecting Indigenous communities in Brazil. A Fiocruz study discovered alarming mercury concentrations in hair samples and oral swabs from 293 Yanomami individuals in nine villages located in the upper Mucajaí River area of Roraima. The mercury levels were three times higher than the recommended safety limits, primarily due to fish contamination, which is a staple in the Yanomami diet. Additionally, cognitive impairments were found in 55.2% of the children across these villages.

Mercury is a neurotoxin, and high levels of exposure can lead to damage to the nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys. Symptoms of high exposure include cognitive disturbances, memory impairment, mood swings, muscle weakness, and skin conditions such as rashes and dermatitis.

A study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives found that maternal consumption of mercury-contaminated fish during pregnancy over three generations contributed to children’s poor mental health, with emotional and behavioural issues linked directly to an increased risk of attempted suicide.

The degradation and contamination of Indigenous lands and water sources drive the Indigenous communities to move to the cities in search of work, exposing them to a range of challenges that can have devastating outcomes.

Preserving Indigenous knowledge and practices is vital for safeguarding the physical and mental well-being of Brazil’s Indigenous populations. The contamination of their land and water forces these communities to relocate to urban areas in search of survival, disrupting their traditional lifestyles. As they adapt, many turn to ultra-processed foods, alcohol, and drugs – substances foreign to their bodies – which can severely affect their health. This shift often results in increased rates of depression, self-harm, and suicide, highlighting the urgent need to protect their heritage and support their communities.

Protection and Action

It’s crucial to establish and enforce permanent policies that safeguard Indigenous people and their sacred lands, while ensuring their participation in the decision-making process. The demarcation of Indigenous territories must be a priority, followed by empowering these communities to defend their rights and protect their land.

“A Brazilian program has demonstrated significant effects in reducing suicide rates among impoverished populations and could potentially be applied as a preventive measure within Indigenous communities as well. By providing financial support, educational resources, and access to healthcare, such programs can help reduce socioeconomic inequalities and promote mental well-being. Strengthening these measures and ensuring access within Indigenous communities, while respecting their cultural and territorial autonomy, could be a crucial step toward mitigating the factors contributing to rising suicide rates,” explained Machado.

Indigenous communities must be protected by the loss of their territories to deforestation and environmental degradation caused by agribusiness expansion, including cattle farming, legal and illegal mining, logging, oil and gas exploration, and harmful infrastructure projects. These activities not only violate Indigenous rights, but also have devastating effects on their physical and mental health. Protecting ecosystems is crucial for Indigenous communities, as their very survival is inextricably tied to the health of the natural world.

The pursuit of profit and the persistence of an extractive colonial mindset must never outweigh the survival of Indigenous communities and the lands they defend. The alarming rise in self-harm and suicide among these communities is a stark indicator of our collective failure to protect them. We must act urgently to reverse this destructive path before it’s too late.

The Amazon-China Connection

Monica Piccinini

1 May 2024

Over the past few decades, Chinese investment in Brazil’s Amazon region has significantly grown and broadened, particularly in sectors like agriculture, mining, infrastructure, and energy. However, this influx has sparked concerns about its environmental and social consequences. As debates intensify, the delicate balance between economic development and ecological preservation remains uncertain.

This year marked the 50th anniversary of Sino-Brazilian diplomatic relations, yet their initial connection traces back to 1881 with the establishment of the first diplomatic mission.

Brazil’s relationship with China intensified with the formation of BRICS in 2009, an intergovernmental organisation consisting of Brazil, China, Russia, India, and South Africa. Additionally, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates have also become part of the group.

A profitable partnership

China stands as Brazil’s largest trading partner. In 2023, bilateral trade between the two nations totalled US$ 157 billion, with Brazil’s exports to China reaching US$104 billion.

A study published by the Brazil-China Business Council (CEBC) in 2023 highlighted the considerable export potential of Brazil’s northern region to China, with projections exceeding US$11 billion.

Just like many other collaborations Brazil has established with other nations, its partnership with China seems to stand out as one of the most profitable. This is primarily due to China’s extensive population and its crucial push for expansion and industrial progress to satisfy the significant needs of its people.

While Chinese projects and investments in Brazil appear beneficial for both parties, concerns arise regarding their alignment with sustainable development standards, particularly in the Amazon region.

There’s apprehension that these initiatives could contribute to widespread deforestation, degradation, and climate change, undermining the region’s role as a carbon sink. Such degradation heightens the risk of zoonotic diseases emerging and spreading, posing a substantial public health threat to both Brazil and the global community.

João Cumarú, researcher at Plataforma CIPÓ (an independent non-profit research institute) and master’s student in Chinese politics and diplomacy at SIRPA (复旦大学, Fudan University, China), explained:

There are notable examples and commendable practices within Chinese territory. However, it’s essential to conduct a thorough analysis to determine whether these practices will be replicated in territories beyond China’s borders.

Livestock

In 2023, China imported 2.2 million tons of meat from Brazil, totalling over US$ 8.2 billion.

According to the Brazilian Institute of Geographics and Statistics (IBGE), the number of cattle slaughtered in the country reached 29.8 million in 2022, marking a 7.5% rise from the previous year. In 2023, beef production surged to 8.91 tons in 2023, reflecting an 11.2% increase compared to 2022.

João Gonçalves, senior director for Brazil at Mighty Earth said:

Through our satellite monitoring we are still finding rampant destruction driven by the meat and soy industries in Brazil. Brazilian beef giant JBS is sourcing from suppliers who are destroying nature with impunity. Our latest research identified a total of 105 deforestation cases linked to JBS, covering over 185,000 hectares of deforestation in the Amazon and the Cerrado.

JBS’ plans to ramp up beef exports to China will mean more cattle and more land grabs, with all the negative impact that brings for forests and the Indigenous communities and wildlife that depend on them.

JBS has big expansion plans, including listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Access to more funds will lead to more nature destruction. We’re urging the US Securities and Exchange Commission to block JBS’ proposed listing on the NYSE over its continued, outsized impact on climate change and Brazil’s precious biomes.”

In March, Carlos Fávaro, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply (MAPA), announced that an extra 38 Brazilian meat processing facilities had been approved to export meat and meat products to China:

This is a significant moment for both sides. China will receive high-quality meats at competitive prices, ensuring agricultural products for its population, while Brazil gains the certainty of job creation, opportunities, and the growth of the Brazilian economy. It’s a historic day in the Brazil-China trade relationship, a historic day for our agriculture.

In 2023, JBS was part of a delegation sent by Brazil’s President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, to China, aiming to negotiate a new export agreement between the two nations.

Lula doesn’t appear hesitant to conceal his unwavering support for JBS and the growth of cattle farming in the country, irrespective of the environmental consequences, such as deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and the violation of traditional and indigenous communities’ rights.

Cattle farming contributes to around 80% of deforestation in the Amazon region. The primary states for cattle production in the Brazilian Amazon are Mato Grosso, Pará, and Rondônia.

The process of forests being converted into pasturelands results in elevated temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and the escalation of extreme weather events. These conditions disrupt climate regulation and the water cycle essential for crop production in Brazil, resulting in considerable losses.

Dr Peter Alexander, senior lecturer in global food systems and security at The University of Endinburgh, mentioned:

We must consume less meat, reduce food waste, establish a more efficient and equitable system, and address pressing human health concerns such as malnutrition and obesity. How can we tackle these challenges within a system that currently fails to promote such outcomes? Moreover, how do we transform this system to prioritise these objectives? These questions linger, as these issues are often considered politically risky and potentially detrimental to electoral success.

Soya

China’s voracious appetite for agricultural commodities extends to soya, as it remains the world’s leading importer, with Brazil standing as the largest producer globally.

In the 2022/2023 crop season, Brazil achieved yet another milestone, setting a record by harvesting around 154.6 million tonnes of soya, reflecting a remarkable 23% increase compared to the previous year’s production of 125.5 million tonnes. In 2023, China soya imports from Brazil reached 69.95 million tonnes, a 29% increase from the previous year.

Brazil has implemented a soya moratorium agreement, where participating companies pledge not to buy soya from farms where soya cultivation has led to deforestation of land in the Amazon biome after July 22, 2008. This initiative aims to eradicate deforestation from the soy production process.

Despite numerous pledges from China National Cereals, Oil and Foodstuffs Co (Cofco) to combat deforestation and improve its supply chains, an inquiry by Repórter Brasil revealed that in 2021, the company sourced soya from deforested regions in Mato Grosso state, situated within both the Cerrado and Amazon regions, through indirect suppliers.

Chinese companies have substantially expanded their footprint in Brazil via mergers and acquisitions. For instance, Hunan Dakang of the Shanghai Pengxin group holds a 57% stake in Fiagril, a Brazilian company specializing in supplying agricultural inputs such as soy, corn, fertilisers, and offering technical support to farmers.

When asked about the trade volume between Brazil and China and Brazil’s dependency resulting from it, Cumarú explained:

Presently, China might view Brazil as a significant market and a commodities exporter. However, historical trends suggest they won’t rely solely on one supplier to fulfil their requirements. There’s a trend towards diversifying energy sources and advancing technologies for land development and restoration within China. The Brazilian government should closely monitor this trend.

Furthermore, our focus shouldn’t be solely on investment expectations; we must also enhance and integrate gains from these investments. A crucial aspect where we’ve fallen short is technology transfer, which could potentially decrease Brazil’s dependence on China.

As soya production expands, the development of logistical corridors becomes necessary to facilitate the flow of grains to ports, thereby reducing freight costs. This has prompted numerous investments in infrastructure, including road and railway projects.

Infrastructure

Chinese investments in Amazonian infrastructure primarily focus on the construction of dams, roads, ports, and railway systems. These initiatives aim to improve transportation routes and lower the costs associated with exporting commodities to China.

The China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) holds an 80% stake in the Brazilian construction firm, Concremat, and engages in numerous projects across the Amazon region.

The logos of both CCCC and Concremat are featured on Brazil’s National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT) website in connection with the paving of the BR-319 highway in the Amazon. This highway stretches 885.9 km, linking the central Amazonian capital, Manaus, to Porto Velho, situated at the forest’s southern edge.

The paving of BR-319 highway has the potential to trigger widespread deforestation, environmental degradation, biodiversity decline, displacement of indigenous communities, increased spread of infectious diseases, surge in illegal mining and logging, and escalation of organised crime.

Last year, Pará’s governor, Helder Barbalho, signed an agreement in Beijing, China, in the presence of the deputy president of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), paving the way for the construction of Ferrovia do Pará. This railway will connect Marabá with the port of Vila do Conde in Barcarena.

Another significant project is Ferrogrão (EF-170), a 933 km greenfield railway venture designed to connect Sinop, in Mato Grosso state, to Itaituba, in Pará state. This railway passes through environmentally protected areas and indigenous territories within the Amazon region.

In 2022, greenfield ventures predominantly characterised the entry of Chinese investments into Brazil, accounting for 59% of the total number of projects.

Ferrogrão has received support from major agribusiness players such as Cargill, Bunge, Louis Dreyfus, and Amaggi, motivated by their primary goal of exporting commodities to China and Europe at reduced expenses. However, this project raises concerns about increased deforestation, degradation, and environmental violations. It’s set to impact numerous indigenous communities, including the Kayapó, Mundukuri, and Panará peoples, who denounce the railway as the “rails of destruction.”

Precious minerals

The Brazilian Amazon is a focal point for the extraction of raw materials as part of national and state economic development agendas. Consequently, the region is witnessing various socio-economic and environmental challenges.

Brazil is a powerhouse in the global mining industry, with significant production and export capabilities in both raw and processed minerals. This includes vital resources such as iron, gold, copper ore, and bauxite—the primary source material for alumina and aluminium.

Bacarena, located in the Pará state, serves as crucial hub for these activities. The region is home to substantial bauxite deposits, concentrated mainly in three key districts: Trombetas, Almeirim, and Paragominas-Tiracambú. This positions Brazil as one of the world’s largest holders of bauxite potential.

In a webinar organised by CEBC in February, Ricardo Biscassi, head of external affairs for Brazilian mining company Vale and CEBC director, disclosed:

The total iron ore exports from Brazil in 2023 to all countries were 380 million tonnes. Of this total, 64%, that is, 242 million tonnes, were sent to China, showing the relevance that China has in the iron ore market, and obviously in the steel market…of these 242 million tons that were exported to China, 76% came from Vale.

In February, a Chinese delegation consisting of representatives from Zhuhai Sino-Lac Chain Co., Guangdon Nonfengbao, and Hohai University, visited the state of Pará, declaring their intent to invest in various sectors within the region, including collaborating on a biofertilizer project with the Federal Rural University of Amazonia (Ufra).

One of the key attractions for Chinese investors in the state of Pará is the municipality of Bacarena, which falls within Brazil’s Export Processing Zone (EPZ). This zone provides a variety of incentives, such as tax exemptions, making it highly attractive to foreign investors.

Approximately 60% of what is produced in Pará, the second largest state in the Amazon region, is exported to China. In 2023, the mineral sector comprised 84% of Pará’s foreign sales. Iron accounts to 80% of these exports, serving as an indispensable material for China’s civil construction market.

There’s a lingering question that remains unresolved. While it’s understood that the Chinese government has implemented green credit policies for companies operating internationally, such as guidelines for overseas mining ventures, there’s uncertainty regarding the level of compliance with these policies. It seems that there isn’t a significant commitment from the Chinese side. Considering China’s substantial investment and trade volumes, this undeniably raises concerns,” declared Cumarú.

In April, Brazil’s Foreign Trade Chamber (Camex) decided to increase the import tax on 11 steel products by up to 25%, aiming to reduce steel imports from China. This action was taken in response to the substantial influx of Chinese steel flooding the Brazilian market at discounted rates.

Lithium represents yet another incredibly valuable resource. China has set its sights on a potential joint venture or acquisition of the Canadian mining company, Sigma, situated in the state of Minas Gerais. The objective is to enhance the battery production operations of Chinese firm BYD in Manaus, the capital of Amazonas. BYD has begun to build a car factory in in Camaçari, in the state of Bahia, an investment of approximately US$ 3 billion.

We must remain mindful of water scarcity as an additional global challenge. Projections indicate that by as soon as 2030, global demand for freshwater is anticipated to exceed the available supply by 40 to 50%, affecting both brown and green manufacturing sectors. There’s a possibility that Chinese manufacturing, currently concentrated in Asia, might shift towards countries abundant in water resources, such as Brazil, including the Amazon region.

Energy

China has made significant investments in Brazil’s energy sector. The State Grid Brazil Holding S.A., a Chinese state-owned energy company, holds control over 24 national power transmission companies in Brazil, including those operating in the Amazon region.

State Grid has announced plans to invest $3.6 billion to upgrade energy transmission lines in Brazil, along with an extra $38 billion in the Brazilian energy sector. They secured a bid to construct 1,500 km of lines across Maranhão, Tocantins, and Goiás states, which includes building substations. Additionally, the company is already managing the 2,500 km Belo Monte UHVDC transmission project.

In December 2023, State Grid secured the largest power transmission auction in Brazil, gaining rights to construct over 4,471 km of new transmission lines across the states of Goiás, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Tocantins.

Another Chinese state-owned enterprise, the Three Gorges Corporation, manages 12 hydroelectric power plants, three of which are situated in the Amazon region. These include Cachoeira Caldeirão in the state of Amapá, Santo Antonio do Jari on the border between the states of Pará and Amapá, and the São Manoel hydroelectric power plant situated on the Teles Pires River, bordering the states of Mato Grosso and Pará.

Numerous infrastructure development initiatives in the Amazon region have sparked controversy due to their potential to escalate deforestation, degradation, urbanisation, traffic, and conflicts in remote rainforest areas. These projects directly affect traditional and indigenous communities, alongside the environment.

The Belo Monte hydroelectric dam and reservoir, located along the Xingu River in the Amazon region of Pará, serve as an example of the detrimental impact that large-scale infrastructure projects can have on biodiverse areas, including the displacement of communities, increased deforestation, and degradation of the aquatic ecosystem of the Xingu River.

Intellectual property

The Amazon rainforest is emerging as a key market for bioproducts, drawing attention both nationally and internationally for its wealth of opportunities in promoting a bioeconomy.

By 2022, Brazil’s National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) had identified 43,400 patents for innovations involving Amazonian flora filed globally. China led the count with 18,965 applications, followed by the USA with 3,778.

The patenting of products derived from Amazonian genetic resources without fair sharing of benefits with local communities and without respecting their rights raises significant concerns. Given the Amazon’s vast wealth of genetic material, this situation could potentially fuel the illicit trafficking of forest products (biopiracy).

High alert

There are numerous uncertainties regarding the socio-environmental consequences of some Chinese investments in the Amazon region and Brazil, as well as how the local population will gain from the extensive exploitation of natural resources and the development of infrastructure in environmentally delicate zones such as the Amazon.

The increased demand from China for commodities could lead to a rampant exploitation of Brazil’s and the Amazon’s natural resources and deepening the country’s dependence on China.

Cumarú spoke about the dynamics of Chinese foreign policy:

One of the principles guiding Chinese foreign policy is non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations. They adhere to the rules of engagement in the countries where they invest, effectively absolving themselves from issues they may be directly or indirectly involved in.

The call for a more proactive approach from the Chinese government can only gain traction if it originates from the Brazilian government, led by the president and the relevant ministries.

In April, China and Brazil entered into a bilateral agreement that includes collaboration in television between China Media Group’s Xinhua News Agency and Brasil Communications Company (EBC). In 2019, Grupo Bandeirantes in Brazil also signed an agreement with China Media Group, focusing on joint productions and sharing content.

The ministries of culture from Brazil and China gathered on April 25 to explore opportunities for cultural exchange between the two countries, covering cinema, publications, libraries, museums, heritage, and copyright.

There are increasing concerns about potential efforts to influence, regulate, and limit information dissemination in Brazil, as there are questions whether China might seek to promote its political, economic, and social ideologies. Such actions could potentially pose risks to both the environment, including the Amazon region, and the sovereign interests of the Brazilian population.

The future of the Amazon, Brazil, and global environmental sustainability is heavily influenced by the relationship between Brazil and China. With their considerable power, these two key players have the potential to address the ongoing environmental destruction and protect indigenous rights in the region. The world will be watching closely the developments of this partnership.

The BRICS Policy Center has not responded to a request for an interview.

Belém’s Environmental Challenges: A Glimpse into COP30 Host City

Monica Piccinini

28 March 2023

In the lead-up to hosting COP30 in 2025, Belém, the capital of Pará in northern Brazil, is confronted with a multitude of pressing issues, from insufficient sanitation and widespread crime to pollution and homelessness, prompting doubts about its preparedness to take the lead on the international platform.

Recent findings from the 2022 Demographic Census conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), reveals that approximately 212,370 individuals, corresponding to 16% of the population in Belém, are presently living under inadequate sanitation.

Ivan Costa, the president of the Brazilian Social Observatory (OSB), a non-governmental organisation based in Belém, explained:

“Addressing the sanitation issue is not a quick fix, given its complexity. It demands meticulous planning, significant investment, and the establishment of regulatory and inspection mechanisms for sanitation, areas currently lacking in Belém.

“Regarding the sewage system, this is a crucial issue. In Belém, numerous canals were improperly filled without oversight, becoming sites for various waste materials that have polluted the entire area, resulting in adverse effects on both the environment and the health of residents.”

According to a study conducted by the Trata Brasil Institute, Belém ranks among the cities with the poorest levels of basic sanitation.

Several articles published by Revista Cenarium highlight issues impacting both Belém and its neighbourhoods. They include inadequate garbage collection services and the challenges surrounding the Marituba and Aurá landfills, which serve as disposal sites for waste generated from the metropolitan region.

Rodolfo Salm, PhD in environmental sciences and lecturer at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) mentioned:

“Belém is a city that leaves a strong impression, primarily due to its staggering waste problem. The abundance of trash, particularly in flood-prone zones, is simply overwhelming. Trash can be found in every corner.

“The situation in both Belém and my hometown of Altamira is deeply disheartening and worrisome. There’s a significant influx of people arriving in the region with hopes of making quick riches through destructive ventures like mining, land grabbing, and logging.

“Although their initial intention is to amass wealth and depart, many end up staying. The region lacks adequate infrastructure to support the most vulnerable populations, leaving us ingrained in this cycle of degradation.”

Landfills

Created in 2015, the Marituba landfill receives approximately 500,000 tons of waste per year from Belém and surrounding municipalities. Originally schedule for closure in 2019 due to reaching its maximum capacity, an extension has been granted, allowing its operations to continue until February 2025.

Aurá is another landfill which commenced operations in 1990. Despite its deactivation, it continues to receive thousands of tons of waste from industrial and urban areas within the city of Belém.

Despite the unpleasant odour emanating from the landfill, numerous families who live nearby earn their livelihoods by collecting discarded waste and various items, such as plastic bottles and scrap metal. Some children in the vicinity frequently search for discarded food to supplement their daily meals.

“There is no selective waste collection system established, no designated area for a new landfill installation, and a lack of public education on city cleanliness. We are currently facing a challenging situation,” explained Costa.

Belém has not complied with Brazil’s National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS) and Federal Law 12.305/2010, which mandates the closure of all landfills in the country by August 2, 2014.

Social, Health and Environmental Impact

The streets of Belém are scattered with rubble and uncollected waste, therefore creating conditions to the spread of diseases, posing significant risks to public health and potentially overwhelming healthcare services.

In Brazil, Belém is the capital city with the highest percentage of households experiencing uncollected garbage, impacting around 35,739 individuals according to IBGE data. Residents often resort to disposing of their waste through methods such as burning, littering in public spaces, vacant lots, or even burying it.

Findings from the survey conducted by the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) indicate that the concentration of hydrogen sulphide gas emitted by the Marituba landfill is 30 times higher in its vicinity. Exposure to this substance can result in symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, burning eyes and skin, fatigue, weight loss, insomnia, and overall inflammation.

According to the UFPA’s research, inhaling foul odours emanating from the Marituba landfill has been linked to respiratory and other illnesses among the population. The study also revealed residents’ discontent with the pollution of waterways, the depreciation of their properties, and deteriorating air quality attributed to the Marituba landfill.

The UFPA report further indicated that the existence of the Marituba landfill is a result of mismanagement of public resources and serves as a cautionary example to be avoided.

Another troubling problem impacting the streets of Belém is homelessness. According to data from the Papa João XXIII Foundation (Funpapa), it is estimated that between 2,500 to 3,000 individuals live on the streets of the city. Across the entire state of Pará, this figure reaches approximately 22,000.

Furthermore, data from a survey carried out by Vigisan, an application focused on monitoring food and nutritional safety in Brazil, indicates that around 53.4% of the population in the state of Pará experience moderate to severe levels of food insecurity.

Challenges such as crime, drug-related concerns and sanitation issues persistently affect some of Belém’s most iconic tourist spots, including the Ver-o-Peso market complex. Both visitors and local workers report these ongoing challenges, indicating a longstanding neglect of the site and an urgent demand for renovation.

The public transportation system in Belém is also in chaos, posing another substantial obstacle. Residents are highly critical of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system expansion, which has been underway since 2012. BRT operates on a medium-capacity public transport model with vehicles traveling along dedicated lanes, including designated stations for rapid passenger boarding. However, the system fails to meet the demands of the population and remains incomplete.

Environmental and Indigenous Rights Concerns

*Belém – Photo credit: Valério Silveira*

The host of COP30 ought to demonstrate global leadership in addressing environmental concerns, yet it appears that both the state of Pará and Brazil have significant progress to achieve in reaching these objectives.

Costa shared his insights on the debate concerning environmental preservation in the region:

“Currently, we observe a contradiction between advocating for the preservation of the “standing forest” to the international community, portraying ourselves as protectors of the forest, while there is a backdrop of violence against those genuinely working to safeguard it. Economic groups and even criminal entities exert influence, violently seizing public lands.”

On February 5, Revista Cenarium released an article exposing unsettling details regarding illicit mining operations occurring in the state of Pará. Drawing from data provided by government agencies, environmental organisations, and a civil case conducted by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF), it was revealed that over 2,000 miners have been active across 100 gold extraction sites, spread across 41 clandestine landing strips within the Paru State Forest (Flota do Paru).

Flota do Paru covers an area of approximately 3.6 million hectares. Created in 2006, this conservation reserve is under the jurisdiction of the Para government and administered by the Institute of Forestry Development and Biodiversity of the state of Para (IDEFLOR-Bio).

IDEFLOR-Bio issued a license to the mining company Mineração Carará Ltda, permitting their operations within the Flota do Paru conservation area. This decision has sparked concerns regarding their genuine dedication to environmental preservation, thereby setting a negative precedent for Brazil and the global community.

According to a Greenpeace study, in 2023, mining activities caused destruction to 1,410 hectares within the indigenous territories (TIs) of the Kayapó (Pará), Munduruku (Pará), and Yanomami communities, the equivalent of opening four football fields each day.

Illegal mining isn’t the only concern impacting the state of Pará. According to a report by Mighty Earth, Pará stands as the second-largest state in the Amazon region for deforestation and degradation alerts in farms with a soy cultivation history, accounting for 23% of Brazil’s total soy area in 2023.

The extraction of palm oil intended for biofuel production in Pará presents yet another significant issue. Global Witness investigation uncovered allegations against Agropalma and Brasil Biofuels (BBF), two prominent Brazilian palm oil companies, for their alleged involvement in conflicts with local communities in Pará.

Palm plantations in the state of Pará occupy an area once covered by rainforest, totalling approximately 226,834 hectares, nearly equivalent to the size of Luxembourg.

Investments

The residents of Belém are looking forward to COP30, anticipating that it will bring about investments and improvements to address the various social, health, and environmental issues they encounter in the region.

Costa discussed his viewpoint regarding the allocation of investments, project completion, and increased involvement of civil society in the region:

“There is a traditional economic elite prepared to benefit from an event of this magnitude, COP30. At the same time, we see the rise of highly committed leaders who can make a difference at this moment, including groups from the periphery, young people, and traditional communities.

“Furthermore, we’ve begun to receive numerous resources, but it’s imperative to understand how they will be utilised to avoid a situation like the “cemeteries” left in the aftermath of the World Cup, where unfinished projects left a detrimental legacy.”

Recently, the city of Belém signed a contract valued at around US$ 140 million with Ciclus Amazônia, a solid waste management firm, to tackle the challenging waste situation in the city. This agreement covers waste collection, treatment, and recycling efforts. Ciclus Amazônia secured the contract through a competitive bidding process to establish a 30-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

Since mid-2023, in anticipation of COP30, the federal government has announced several investment initiatives for Belém. A portion of these funds, approximately US$ 1 billion, will be provided by the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES).

Despite significant investment announcements for the region, there remains a level of scepticism regarding the planned projects, their capacity to adhere to deadlines, and ultimately, their completion. This includes initiatives such as the restructuring of major canals crossing the city, and the expansion of the BRT system.

There are doubts regarding whether there will be sufficient time to successfully complete and deliver all scheduled projects before COP30 begins, given that most of these projects have yet to be initiated.

Costa offered his last reflections on the implications of COP30 for Belém and the region:

“What will be the lasting impact of COP30 on the city of Belém and its surrounding region, particularly for the most vulnerable communities? These are the communities in greatest need of meaningful change and improvements that will enhance their quality of life and benefit the environment.

“We aim not to repeat the experience of “Rio 92”, but rather to establish a positive legacy for both the region and the world, something we can genuinely take pride in.”

Below are some of the statements issued by the spokesperson representing the cabinet office of Helder Barbalho, the governor of Pará:

“The government of Pará is carrying out several macro-drainages works to prevent floods and flooding, both in the COP polygon and in peripheral areas. Between completed and ongoing works, we have around 10 neighbourhoods and one million people benefiting. The projects include canals and roads in the capital with asphalt paving, rainwater drainage, sewage, landscaping, sports courts, squares, playgrounds, and an outdoor gym. Regarding the disposal of waste, this is a matter for the city of Belém, which the state government has been monitoring.”

“The Institute for Forestry and Biodiversity Development (Ideflor-Bio) informs that the company has authorization from the National Mining Agency (ANM) to carry out the activity. The legislation and the Paru State Forest Management Plan (Flota) allow experimental gold mining activities. Therefore, there is no legal impediment for the company Mineração Carará Ltda to request the necessary environmental license for the project, since the legislation allows mineral developments in Conservation Units (UCs) for Sustainable Use, as in the case of Flota Paru. However, there is no environmental license for experimental gold mining granted in Flota do Paru.”

“Regarding illegal mining and landing strips, the government of Pará informs that it works in an integrated manner with the public ministry, civil, military, federal and army police, to dismantle illegal mining in state UCs. In 2023, Semas (State Secretariat for Environment and Sustainability) teams closed 42 illegal mining sites in Pará.”

“It is the commitment of the federal and state governments that the capital of Pará hosts the conference and has adequate infrastructure and logistics to host the largest climate discussion event in the world.”

The BR-319 Highway: A Scientist’s Call to Action for the Amazon and Beyond

Monica Piccinini

March 6, 2024

Lucas Ferrante, researcher with a PhD in ecology from Brazil’s National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), has conducted multiple scientific studies uncovering the negative impacts of the BR-319 highway project on the Amazon rainforest.

The Amazon’s BR-319 highway, a stretch of 885.9 km, connects the central Amazonian capital, Manaus, to Porto Velho, on the southern edge of the forest. It passes through one of the most preserved blocks of the forest, where it contains an enormous stock of carbon. Ferrante’s research findings highlight the danger this project poses to 63 indigenous territories and 18,000 indigenous people, as well as to the environment, biodiversity, and the world climate.

Ferrante has consistently raised alarms about the irreversible repercussions that could result from paving the Amazon’s BR-319 highway, emphasising its potential for widespread deforestation, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, impact on indigenous communities, and increase of illegal mining, logging, and organised crime.

Moreover, Ferrante highlights the risk of spreading infectious diseases and the potential emergence of a new pandemic and pushing the forest past a tipping point. Despite encountering numerous intimidations and threats, Ferrante remains firm in his commitment, refusing to be silenced.

In a recent conversation with Ferrante, he shared his main concerns regarding the BR-319 highway project in the Amazon region.

Given the severe drought observed last year in the Amazon due to climate change, the El Niño phenomenon, deforestation, and environmental degradation, what are the expected climate consequences of paving the BR-319 highway in the Amazon, in Brazil and globally?

The Amazon rainforest is of vital importance in maintaining hydrological cycles that regulate global climate and influence precipitation patterns in the southern and south-eastern regions of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Paving the BR-319 highway could lead to deforestation shifting towards the untouched and conserved central Amazon, triggering a climate collapse within the biome and an unparalleled biodiversity crisis.

Carbon emissions resulting from deforestation and the subsequent deterioration of forest ecosystems would cause significant and irreversible consequences for the planet. This project poses a critical risk of pushing the Earth beyond the brink of climate collapse, particularly by facilitating access to oil exploration sites in the Amazon, thereby exacerbating global emissions. The result of this damage will be reverberated across the planet.

What are the potential risks and impacts on the Amazon rainforest, Brazil, and the world if the BR-319 highway is paved?

Besides deforestation, there’s an unprecedented decline in biodiversity and significant effects on both local and global climates due to the highway. Moreover, it directly affects 18,000 indigenous people, leading to violations of their civil rights. This represents the most extensive occurrence of indigenous rights violations globally, happening in the 21st century amidst the internet age, without proper reporting.

Invaders of indigenous territories have weaponised the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in a devastating impact on populations. This has led to indigenous mortality rates being three times higher than those of non-indigenous people.

A hidden genocide is underway, previously overlooked by the government of former president, Jair Bolsonaro, and now President Lula’s administration. This lack of acknowledgment persists as the current government aims to facilitate oil exploration in the region.

Furthermore, the Amazon rainforest is the largest reservoir of beta coronavirus and zoonoses in the world. Forest degradation, the human presence, and greater mobility in this region can lead to zoonotic leaps where diseases stored in the forest can jump to humans, potentially sparking a fresh global pandemic or a series of them. This concern is particularly pronounced due to the proximity of Manaus, a metropolis housing over two million people, where rampant community transmission and the emergence of the highly lethal Gamma variant of Covid-19 took place.

*Traces of deforestation along the BR-319 highway near Realidade. Photo credit: Evgeny Makarov.*

It is important to highlight that the region lacks capability to issue an epidemiological alert for a pandemic originating within it. An example of this is the Covid-19 Gamma variant, which was identified only after crossing the Brazilian borders and spreading globally, with the first case detected in Japan.

We are at the brink of a potential new pandemic scenario, and the alterations in climate resulting from the construction of the BR-319 highway could still provide favourable conditions for these pathogens. We are on the verge of a new global situation, yet Brazilian authorities are showing negligence in addressing this matter.

The highway is contributing to the strengthening of international organised crime, which has expanded its operations beyond drug trafficking to include activities such as gold mining and land grabbing in the region.

What justifications does the Brazilian government provide for paving the BR-319 highway, and how valid are they?

The highway is not justified from an economic point of view, it lacks an economic feasibility study, known as the EVTA, stipulated by Law 5917/1973. Additionally, the BR-319 highway project failed to conduct the essential consultations with the indigenous communities, required both by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 169 and the Brazilian law 10,088/2019.

The primary transportation route in the area has traditionally been via the Madeira River, offering cost-effectiveness, safety, cleanliness, and efficiency compared to the BR-319 highway. However, the government is motivated to expand mining operations, industrial agriculture, and livestock farming in the region, as well as facilitate access to large areas for oil and gas exploration.

Brazil’s president Lula presented a “green” speech at COP28, but it seems to be pure greenwashing. Our study published in Nature reveals his genuine intentions, which focuses on ramping up fossil fuel exploration. He has given priority to the BR-319 highway project and has already auctioned off 21 oil exploration blocks in the region. Some companies, including those from Russia and China, are targeting the area, and their political alliances have strengthened these initiatives.

Numerous politicians have shown their support behind the initiative to reconstruct the BR-319 highway, desperately seeking to justify its significance for the region. They have resorted to unfounded arguments, such as associating it to the oxygen crisis in Manaus during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. They claim that with the road in operation, oxygen could have been rapidly transported to the region. However, this assertion lacks credibility, as my research had already alerted about the second wave six months earlier.

What’s Lula’s government’s approach to paving the BR-319 highway? Does he support this project?

Lula fully supports the reconstruction of the BR-319 highway, along with the exploration of oil and gas reserves in the area.

On February 1st, Brazil’s vice-president, Geraldo Alckmin, visited Manaus and stated that the government has been actively prioritising the paving of the BR-319 highway. However, his claim that the highway will be a sustainable project and that deforestation will not occur is misleading.

In his speech, he referenced the Atlantic Forest as a model for sustainability to follow. However, only 8% of the original Atlantic Forest biome remains, with more than 97% existing as fragmented forests, each covering less than 50 hectares. Roads and highways play a significant role in the degradation of the region.

Taking the Atlantic Forest scenario serves as a model for the government’s intentions regarding the Amazon. However, if this path persists, it may accelerate the collapse of the biome and the surrounding environment, with far-reaching consequences for global climate patterns. It’s clear that Lula’s government is not prioritising environmental and climate concerns with the necessary urgency.

What are your impressions regarding the proposal put forth on December 18, 2023, concerning bill PL 4994/2023, which aims to designate the BR-319 highway as a “critical infrastructure essential to national security”, requiring the expedited licensing of the project and immediate allocation of funds?

At this crucial point, the chamber of deputies has passed a bill designating the BR-319 highway as “critical infrastructure essential to national security.” However, the assertion regarding national security is unfounded, given that the highway has no border connections. A military general has already affirmed that the BR-319 highway does not present any national security risks.

Moreover, our research findings reveals that the BR-319 highway lacks significance as a critical infrastructure project, favouring instead the transport route via the Madeira River. Nevertheless, this legislation disregards environmental licensing procedures and the rights of indigenous communities. Additionally, it’s concerning that the Amazon Fund, designated for environmental preservation, may be allocated to pave the highway, contradicting its purpose, as the highway’s construction promotes deforestation.

As a scientist with multiple studies published in prestigious scientific journals worldwide, what types of retaliation, intimidation, and threats have you been facing due to your research and for expressing concerns about the paving of the BR-319 highway?

Despite facing relentless assaults from politicians and land grabbers, along with death threats and two additional attacks, my firm dedication remains focused on bringing the attention to the impacts of the reconstruction of the BR-319 highway.

This is not merely a road project; it represents a battle against catastrophic and irreversible consequences. Should this road be reconstructed, it will alter our world irreversibly, leading us down a road to ruin.

We can expect an era marked by extreme weather events and pandemics, making it essential for the global population to engage. This project will impact every reader, irrespective of their location, so I sincerely invite everyone to unite in this cause.

What message would you like to convey to the Brazilian and foreign governments, Brazilian and global communities, local and international NGOs, corporations, and agencies?

As outlined in our research, which appeared in the January 30 issue of Nature magazine, safeguarding the environment is a decision based on science and should not be subject to discussion.

This project is a global effort since its ramifications will be felt worldwide. It represents the primary environmental initiative presently, given its capacity to reshape our planet, be it through significant climate repercussions or the global health risks arising from the release of novel diseases stored within forests.

Every scientific investigation indicates the infeasibility of paving the BR-319 highway, given its adverse economic, social, health, and environmental effects, which will impact the global population. We must follow scientific recommendations and not negotiate the future of the planet.

If you’d like to contribute to Lucas Ferrante’s efforts to halt the progress of this project, which includes backing his scientific research, please kindly click here.

The Amazon’s Warning Call: A Potential Epicentre for the Next Pandemic

February 12, 2024

Preserving the Amazon rainforest isn’t just an environmental concern; it’s a matter of survival. It’s the most biodiverse place on the planet, a reservoir of life-saving medicines, and a critical regulator of our planet’s climate. Our health, our survival, and the balance of our world rely on its protection.

The Amazon’s diverse ecosystem is under threat from rampant deforestation, degradation, and climate change, jeopardising its ability to act as a carbon sink. This degradation increases the likelihood of zoonotic diseases emerging and spreading, posing a significant public health risk for Brazil and the world.

Climate change, deforestation, alterations in land use, agricultural expansion, livestock farming, mining activities, biodiversity loss, urbanisation, oil and gas extraction, and large-scale infrastructure developments, such as road and dam construction in the Amazon rainforest, have all been associated with the rise and spread of infectious diseases. These include dengue, yellow fever, malaria, Zika virus, Chikungunya fever, Candida auris, leishmaniasis, Oropouche virus, hantavirus, and numerous others, with the possibility of also introducing novel pathogens.

Dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever mosquito aedes aegypti on human skin
Photo 93069829 © Tacio Philip Sansonovski | Dreamstime.com

In 2023, Brazil recorded 1,079 deaths from dengue fever, a 20.9% increase compared to the previous year. According to the Ministry of Health, between January 1 and January 30, the country reported over 217,000 cases, marking a significant 233% increase from the same period in 2023, when there were just over 65,000 cases.

In 2024, Brazil recorded approximately 408,351 potential cases of dengue, as per data from the Ministry of Health’s Arbovirus Monitoring Panel.

According to a report published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2023, the country experienced around 2.9 million suspected cases of dengue. This significant rise in dengue cases may be attributed to factors such as the El Niño phenomenon, deforestation, and the impact of climate change, which can lead to more frequent and severe weather events.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the vector for transmitting diseases such as the dengue virus, yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya viruses.

Brazil’s Health Surveillance Foundation (FVS) has recently reported that a new strain of the Oropouche virus has been responsible for outbreaks in the Brazilian Amazon region over the past two years. In the state of Amazonas alone, there were 1,066 recorded cases of the virus between 2023 and 2024.

Oropouche fever is caused by an arbovirus transmitted through the bite of a mosquito called Culicoides paraense, commonly known as maruim.

The Largest Biodiversity Reservoir on the Planet

The Amazon rainforest is recognised as one of the largest reservoirs for zoonotic diseases, which can be transmitted from animals to humans. Numerous scientists have consistently warned about the environmental imbalances linked to the escalating prevalence of infectious diseases and have drawn attention to the imminent risk of a deadly pathogen emerging from the Amazon rainforest.

The interaction between humans and wild species, along with their pathogens, creates opportunities for the emergence of zoonotic diseases, facilitating the transmission of new pathogens across various host species, a phenomenon known as “spillover“, leading to the introduction of novel infections into the human population.

For spillover events to happen, there must be interaction among different species and favourable conditions for pathogens to spread among humans. One example is the transmission of bat-borne diseases, such as rabies, in the Amazon rainforest. This is often associated with factors like deforestation, agricultural expansion, and the presence of livestock, which increase contact between these animals and humans and facilitate the transmission of infections.

Various types of animals, including monkeys, bats, and mosquitoes, can serve as carriers or vectors of infectious diseases to humans, as they carry pathogens like viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and prions. Transmission of these pathogens to humans can occur through direct contact with these animals or via water, food, or the surrounding environment.

Sars, Ebola, Hendra, and Nipah are examples of pathogens from bats that have triggered outbreaks in the human population.

Climate Change

Joel Henrique Ellwanger, biologist and researcher at the department of genetics at Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), mentioned:

“Climate change will trigger important ecological changes in the Amazon, many of them with the potential to reduce its biodiversity, facilitating the spread of known disease vectors and increasing the chances of new diseases emerging.”

The impact of climate change and deforestation is causing a surge in extreme weather events and rising temperatures. These conditions are impacting the quantity of vectors, transmission patterns and interspecies interactions, driving the spread of infectious diseases across the Amazon region and throughout Brazil.

Parintins, Brazil. 08th Nov, 2023. Boats stand side by side in a narrow riverbed outside the community. The drought causes difficulties for the river dwellers in terms of fishing, but also traffic. Villages in the region are linked by rivers. The green lung of the planet, the Amazon basin in South America, is experiencing an unprecedented crisis. The world’s largest rainforest area is suffering from the worst drought in over a century. Credit: Aguilar Abecassis/dpa/Alamy Live News

Severe droughts in the Amazon rainforest can create conditions to the spread of various diseases, such as dengue. During periods of limited rainfall, residents often resort to storing water in tanks, consequently creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

“For instance, as temperatures rise, mosquitoes become more active and reproduce at a higher rate. Furthermore, changes in climate may cause animals carrying pathogens to migrate to areas where humans reside,” said Ellwanger.

The increase in cases of Candida auris, a fungus resistant to multiple drugs associated with hospital-acquired infections, may be caused by higher temperatures resulting from climate change. This pathogen affects severely ill patients, including both adults and children, who are receiving intensive care in hospitals across the globe.

Ellwanger explained how climate change may have played a role in the surge of Candida auris:

“Climate change can influence the evolution of pathogens. Certain microorganisms, once unable to infect humans because they were accustomed to lower temperatures, are now adapting to warmer conditions that mimic the human body’s warmth. This adaptation creates the potential for these microorganisms, typically present in soil and similar settings, to infect humans and cause illnesses. This phenomenon is believed to have happened with Candida auris.”

Deforestation and Urbanisation

Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest. Patch of forest land cleared of vegetation for agricultural purposes.
Credit: ID248036003 © J Brarymi | Dreamstime.com

Studies suggest that deforestation, biodiversity loss and habitat degradation create pathways for disease agents to transition from the diverse reservoir of various coronaviruses and pathogens in the region into the human population. The Amazon’s vulnerable healthcare system additionally complicates the detection and containment of any emerging pandemic from this area.

When exploring the emergence of epidemics, urbanisation becomes another critical factor to consider. It contributes to the depletion of forested areas, consequently increasing the risk of infectious diseases in regions like the Amazon rainforest. The outbreak of Zika virus infection in Brazil has been associated with urbanization and the loss of forested lands.

Infrastructure Projects

The construction of roads in the Amazon rainforest contributes to deforestation, forest fires, biodiversity decline, increased hunting activities, and human migration, directly impacting the dynamics of infectious diseases.

Between 1970 and 1973, the building of the Trans-Amazonian highway, known as BR-230, led to the influx of around 22,000 individuals to the area. These individuals encountered disease vectors, exposing them to various illnesses such as malaria, leptospirosis, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, Mayaro fever, yellow fever, and numerous others.

A study published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities warns that the reconstruction of the Amazon’s BR-319 highway could result in devastating environmental effects, including an increased risk of zoonotic spillovers, potentially leading to new pandemics.

The Amazon’s BR-319 highway, extends 885.9 km and connects the central Amazonian capital Manaus to the southern boundary of the forest in Porto Velho, crossing through one of the most preserved sections of the forest. Deforestation along the central portion of the BR-319 has already resulted in a 400% increase in malaria cases.

A recent study published in Nature alerts that the initiatives of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration to construct roads and pursue oil exploration in the Amazon area may potentially trigger a new worldwide pandemic.

The construction of hydroelectric dams in the Amazon rainforest also raises significant concern. One example is the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam complex in Brazil, located in the northern region of the Xingu River within the state of Pará. This project has significantly changed the landscape of the Brazilian Amazon, inundating an area of approximately 516 km².

Flooding dry regions within the rainforest leads to loss of biodiversity and creates habitats suitable for disease vectors like mosquitoes, thereby intensifying the proliferation of viral and parasitic illnesses.

Dams can lead to the displacement of communities and the migration of populations drawn to forested regions, potentially increasing human-wildlife interactions, and the transmission of infectious diseases.

The implementation of proposed projects in the Amazon rainforest, including the reconstruction of BR-319 highway and the exploration of oil, could result in catastrophic and irreversible consequences, including an increase and spread of infectious diseases, due to environmental degradation in the region.

Agriculture and Livestock

A group of cattle in confinement in Brazil
Credit: ID196817068 © Alf Ribeiro | Dreamstime.com

“Meat connects different points involving the degradation of the Amazon and emerging diseases. Cattle farming is one of the main factors in the degradation of the Amazon biome, thus facilitating the spread of pathogens in the region. Hunting and the consumption of wild animal meat is a problem both for the conservation of species and for public health, as it reduces animal biodiversity and increases the chances of spillover events. Regrettably, this issue remains largely overlooked and is often deemed taboo in Brazil,” explained Ellwanger.

Studies suggest that intensified agriculture and forest conversion for farming and pasture for cattle, increase human-pathogen interaction, promoting the emergence of viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections.

Professionals in the meat industry regularly interact with livestock animals and may lack adequate working conditions to reduce the risk of zoonotic pathogen transmission. Additionally, they may have limited knowledge about the health risks associated with their work activities.

Slaughterhouses within the Amazon region are implicated in the processing of animals sourced from deforested areas and may be operating without any form of health inspection.

Another concern is the excessive use of antimicrobial drugs in veterinary practice. The main drivers of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) include the overuse of antibiotics in livestock for growth promotion and prevent diseases, particularly in intensified livestock farming.

Antimicrobial resistance AMR concept. Desk in the hospital.
Credit: ID117616099 © Designer491 | Dreamstime.com

The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes AMR as the overlooked pandemic. Some of the latest figures suggest that AMR will cause 10 million deaths by the year 2050, more than from cancer, diabetes and pneumococcal diseases combined.

According to Cóilín Nunan, scientific adviser to the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics, certain types of antibiotics used in animal farming have led to the rise and spread of livestock associated strains of MRSA and Clostidrium difficile.

Oxford University scientists published a study revealing Escherichia coli bacteria that have developed resistance to colistin in animal agriculture. Nunan highlights this as a significant concern, suggesting it might pose a greater threat than antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by potentially increasing the likelihood of infections in humans.

Bushmeat

The hunting and consumption of bushmeat from wild animals can also lead to spillover events, as humans come into close contact with fresh meat, blood, and organs from infected animals.

Approximately 473 tons of wild animal meat are sold annually in the Amazon rainforest, across Colombia, Peru, and Brazil.

It’s essential to recognise that a complete ban on bushmeat consumption in certain regions could impact the livelihoods of thousands who depend on this activity.

Essential Measures

In a conversation with Ellwanger regarding the essential measures required to prevent the emergence and spread of infectious diseases in the Amazon rainforest and avert the onset of a new pandemic in the region, he explained:

“Certain crucial measures must be undertaken, including improving livestock sanitary measures, increasing pathogen surveillance, upgrading environmental sanitation systems, discouraging human settlement in forested regions, boosting investments in human training and specialised labs for pathogen identification, creating new vaccines, and examining biological and social factors affecting infection susceptibility.

“The loss of biodiversity in the Amazon is mainly caused by livestock farming, mining activities and monoculture cultivation, especially soy. Combating these activities is the responsibility of the Brazilian Government by strengthening environmental protection bodies, preserving, and expanding indigenous territories, and committing to a serious environmental agenda,” added Ellwanger.

Furthermore, urgent action is needed to prioritise reducing greenhouse gas emissions globally, alongside combating deforestation and protecting indigenous territories. It’s crucial to reassess infrastructure projects and manage human activities in the region carefully. Suspending oil and gas exploration in the Amazon is essential, as is regulating the expansion of intensive agriculture, cattle farming, and mining projects.

Ellwanger explained that preserving the Amazon rainforest should be in everyone’s interest:

“The preservation of the Amazon isn’t just about protecting nature – it’s about safeguarding our own health. Let’s commit to conserving this vital ecosystem to ensure that the threats of potential pathogens stay confined to the wild, far from endangering human lives. After all, the health of the Amazon means the health of us all.”

Pantanal Blaze: Nature’s Silent Scream

Monica Piccinini

28 November 2023

Throughout this month, rampant fires engulfed the Pantanal in Brazil, one of the world’s largest tropical wetlands and home to endangered species and indigenous communities.

According to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) and the Alarmes System by LASA and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), 1,272.050 hectares have already suffered devastation from fires this year, a figure three times higher than the recorded incidents in 2022.

SOS Pantanal executive director, Leonardo Gomes, described the situation:

“The theme of fire persists in the Pantanal. Since 2019, a combination of droughts and the repercussions of climate change have led to a significant number of hot spots emerging right in the middle of November, a month that typically experiences rainfall.”

Stretching across Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia, the Pantanal covers an estimated 16 million hectares in total. Within Brazil, the Pantanal occupies portions of the states of Mato Grosso (35%) and Mato Grosso do Sul (65%).

The Pantanal is home to a diverse range of wildlife, featuring more than 2,000 plant species, 174 mammals, 580 birds, 271 fish, 131 reptiles, and 57 amphibians. Among its inhabitants are numerous vulnerable and endangered species, including the giant otter, giant anteater, giant armadillo, lowland tapir, and the world’s largest parrot, the hyacinth macaw. Additionally, the Pantanal hosts the highest density of jaguars globally.

Luciana Leite, biologist and climate campaigner, mentioned that the Pantanal is an important carbon sink, playing a fundamental role in regulating the climate of South America. Leite explained:

“This year, we confronted an atypical drought with rising temperatures and heat waves, and as a result, the fires returned. The shortage of firefighters, aircraft, machinery and expertise, posed challenges in addressing the fires, ranging from crown fires in forested areas of the biome, to peat fires that can persist and reignite without adequate post-event management and monitoring.”

In the summers of 2019 and 2020, the Pantanal experienced a shortage of rainfall, as indicated by climatologist José Marengo’s study. This was attributed to a decrease in the transport of warm and humid summer air from Amazonia to the Pantanal. Instead, there was a dominance of warmer and drier air masses from subtropical latitudes, leading to a scarcity of summer rainfall during the peak of the monsoon season. Consequently, the region endured prolonged periods of severe drought conditions.

Marengo described the 2019-2020 Pantanal fires:

“Fires caused on one hand by warmer air and lack of rain in the Pantanal, and on the other by the burning of areas to clear the vegetation for cattle to graze, resulted in environmental disaster.”

Steve Trent, Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) founder and CEO, mentioned:

“While so much of the wildlife and ecosystems in the Pantanal have been irrevocably destroyed, there is still time to rescue what remains. We’ve been campaigning for the EU to widen the scope of the regulation on deforestation-free products to include precious ecosystems beyond forests, to protect wetlands like the Pantanal.

“Already, land clearance in the Pantanal is accelerating, with 83% of a category known as “Other Natural Ecosystems” disappearing in 2020 to 2021 compared to the year before. Stronger regulations from the EU and Brazil are crucial to preserve what is left of the Pantanal.”

Total Devastation

*Photo: Gustavo Figueroa – SOS Pantanal*

“How much of the biome do we need to lose for the world to see what is happening? In 2020, almost 30% of the Pantanal biome burned. Scenes of jaguars with their paws raw went viral, as did the mockery and denialism of then-president Jair Bolsonaro,” mentioned Leite.

“Organised civil society was essential in fighting the fires, rescuing the victimised fauna, establishing watering and feeding points for animals that survived the flames and faced the so-called ‘silent hunger’, crossing decimated landscapes,” she added.

In 2020, fires claimed the lives of over 17 million vertebrates and released 115.6 million tonnes of CO₂, exceeding the carbon emissions of Belgium for that year.

“One of the contributing factors to the rapid spread of the fire is the loss of surface water. Since 1985, the Pantanal has lost 74% of its surface water,” said Leite.

Rodrigo Agostinho, the president of the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama), told me about one of the issues affecting the region:

“The Pantanal faces a set of challenges, with its lands experiencing increasing dryness. The installation of more than 500 small hydroelectric power plants (PCHs) in the Upper Paraguay river basin, a crucial water source for the region, has altered the natural rhythm of the waters, complicating the filling of the floodplain.”

“In the Pantanal, specific remote areas undergo rapid transitions from flooding to quick drying, in a time frame of approximately two months, leading to fires that make access to these locations impossible. The challenging conditions in these hard-to-reach regions further complicate effective management,” mentioned Gomes about his experience.

Some meteorologists attribute the surge in fires to the El Niño phenomenon, intensified by climate change. However, cattle farmers seeking to expand grazing land, a crucial economic activity in the Pantanal, may have initiated a substantial number of these fires.

According to a report by the Environmental Justice Foundation, EJF, a total area of 751,249.6 hectares of forest, savanna, grassland and wetland formations in the Pantanal were converted into pasture between 2010 and 2021. The estimated total cattle population in the Brazilian Pantanal stands at 3.8 million animals.

Between 2019 and 2022, an area equivalent to the size of Barcelona was deforested in the Pantanal. Unfortunately, this situation appears to be worsening, exacerbated by El Niño, climate change and the expansion of agribusiness.

Approximately 12% of the Pantanal’s native vegetation has vanished due to the growth of cattle farming and agricultural practices.

Agostinho mentioned:

“Although the Pantanal remains the most conserved biome in Brazil, deforestation rates have risen. The reduced humidity has led landowners to shift their investments towards agriculture.

“Land in the Pantanal is being sold at lower prices compared to those in other parts of Mato Grosso do Sul and Mato Grosso. In more humid areas, landowners are directing investments towards drainage efforts to convert land into cultivated areas,” he added.

Trent asks for international cooperation:

“The beef we eat, from the UK to Italy, could be supplied by ranchers responsible for setting these destructive fires. This means the international community has a responsibility – but also an ability – to stop the Pantanal burning. It’s time for more regulation, including on mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence, and enhancing and meeting international climate commitments.”

The local and indigenous communities are also suffering, as their land has been completely destroyed by the fires. At least 90% of the Guató indigenous land, located in the western state of Mato Grosso do Sul, was burned by the 2020 fires.

This year, the fires reached the backyards of inns in the region and very close to riverside communities.

*Dead monkey – Photo: Gustavo Figueroa – SOS Pantanal*

“In April, we carried out extensive planning to prevent and combat fires in the Pantanal, significantly increasing the number of firefighters. The combination of El Niño and escalating climate warming formed an explosive mix. Without our proactive preparations, the magnitude of the disaster would have been far more significant,” mentioned Agostinho.

Political Strife

“The Pantanal, with less than 5% of its area under protection, stands out as one of the biomes requiring urgent Conservation Units (UCs). During a conciliation hearing in March, a mandate was issued for the State Environmental Education Police (PEEA) to develop a management plan within 90 days.

“The Mato Grosso government’s failure to enact a plan containing directives for fire prevention and control constitutes a non-compliance with a court order,” explained Leite.

The majority of the Pantanal remains without protection, designated as private lands, and lacks targeted policies to tackle deforestation associated with cattle farming and soy production. In 2015, a decree was enacted in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, legalising cattle ranching within Permanent Protected Areas (PPAs).

In August 2022, a comparable bill was sanctioned by the state of Mato Grosso, endorsing the utilisation of Permanent Protected Areas (PPAs) and Legal Reserves (LRs) for cattle farming in the Pantanal biome.

“We are also witnessing a serious political issue centered on a jurisdictional dispute. The firefighters in Mato Grosso formally communicated with the federal government, expressing that their efforts were unwelcome. Consequently, 40% of Encontro das Aguas State Park ended up in flames and destroyed,” mentioned Leite.

Gomes highlighted his concerns:

“There is an immediate need for more robust planning and increased collaboration between the federal and state governments. The coordination and cooperation among agencies, including Ibama, the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), and the Fire Department, must be further strengthened.

“Additionally, there is a necessity for improvements in field inspections, expertise to identify the root cause of fires, and the implementation of comprehensive management policies.

“Another point of frustration is the failure of Conservation Units (UCs) to set a positive example. Some state parks, despite having significant potential for finance revenue, lack the necessary investment. As a result, tackling fires within these parks becomes a nearly impossible task,” added Gomes.

A notable and disconcerting viewpoint articulated and defended by many local figures revolves around the idea that some local authorities deliberately procrastinate in controlling forest fires.

The hypothesis suggests that such delays serve a tactical purpose, enabling authorities to declare a state of emergency. This strategic move allows them to allocate resources without being constrained by the usual bureaucratic and bidding processes required during ‘normal times.’ This phenomenon is known as ‘the industry of fire.’

Fire Prevention Initiative

Liana O. Anderson, biologist and researcher at the National Center for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters (Cemaden), shared with me some information about a couple of interesting projects focused on fire prevention.

The first project is the Climate Science for Service Partnership (CSSP) Brazil, in collaboration with the MetOffice , which some of the results are available at the VIEWpoint website. As one of this project’s components, they developed a likelihood of fires up to three months ahead, which indicates priority areas. It serves as a valuable information source for guiding planning efforts to proactively prevent fire disasters.

“This product helps and shows when conditions tend to worsen, triggering the necessary mobilisations,” mentioned Liana.

Another interesting project associated with fire prevention involves the launch of the educational book titled “É Fogo!”, designed for education practitioners and is adapted to schools, associations and organisations interested in developing activities related to fire risk and impacts understanding and prevention. Liana explained:

“The primary goal is to convert local institutions into miniature “Cemadens,” serving as small research units equipped with tailored scientific methodologies for the general public. These units are specifically geared towards children and young individuals, empowering them to generate data and information. Through this process, the aim is to create awareness, self-protection skills, and reflective capacities.

“I am confident that these preventive tools can gradually reverse the widespread fire scenarios in the country. These efforts are dedicated to educating and informing individuals and institutions while also generating scientific information to support informed decision-making,” added Liana.

Marengo, the general coordinator for research at Cemaden, shared his insights through the findings of his studies. He mentioned that the expansion of agriculture, cattle farming, fishing and tourism should follow sustainable practices to ensure the preservation of the Pantanal. If the current trajectory of climate and land-management practices continues, the Pantanal would be at risk of disappearing.

He suggested that embracing anti-environmental policies could exacerbate this situation. The profound impacts of climate change are mostly felt in fragile ecosystems and the world’s most impoverished communities. To avert catastrophic consequences, urgent global action is imperative in the coming decades, requiring drastic changes by 2050 in alignment with the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement.

Trent delivers a message to both Brazil and the global community:

“Collective action should have been taken years ago to protect this one-of-a-kind wetland, but it isn’t too late. Now is the moment for global leaders to step up and do what is needed to meet their climate commitments, ending the climate crisis before crucial ecosystems like the Pantanal disappear forever.”

The BR-319 Highway: Amazon’s Trojan Horse

Monica Piccinini

08 November 2023

The Amazon drought in Brazil is unleashing a wave of environmental, health, economic, and social disruptions in the region, becoming a controversial and convenient tool manipulated by a group of politicians and business leaders to promote an ambitious infrastructure project – the reconstruction of the BR-319 highway, a stretch of 885.9 km, connecting the capital Manaus in central Amazonia to the southern edge of the forest, Porto Velho.

Pink river dolphins and fish are dying, as the Madeira, Negro and Solimões rivers reach record low water levels. This dire situation in the state of Amazonas, marked by scorching heat waves, smoke, insufficient rainfall, and severe drought, is a direct consequence of climate change, the El Niño phenomenon, deforestation, and ecosystem degradation.

The drought in the Amazon is obstructing the delivery of raw materials to the region, given that transportation primarily relies on river routes. Certain areas are facing shortages of food, medicine, drinking water, and even energy, leading to rationing measures.

Grain exporters are experiencing disruptions in their planned shipments to northern Brazilian ports because of the Amazon River drought and its limited navigational capabilities. Consequently, they’re forced to reroute their shipments to terminals in the southern and southeastern areas.

Lobbying and Misleading Pretexts

*Lobbying world cloud sphere concept – Photo 124523602 | Lobbying © Spettacolare | Dreamstime.com*

A strong lobbying effort led by a coalition of nearly 200 politicians, with the backing of certain media outlets, is escalating. They are using the Amazon drought as a justification to push for the reconstruction of BR-319, a road connecting Manaus, the capital of the Amazon, to Porto Velho. This action disregards the multitude of studies and scientific evidence that highlight the potential social, economic, health and environmental consequences this project may impose on the region.

A coalition consisting of state and federal representatives, senators, and governors from the Amazonian regions created the ‘Parliamentary Front for the Revival of BR-319.’ This group, led by Deputy Fausto Santos Junior, is advocating for the revival of the BR-319 highway.

Pressure is mounting from various directions as business representatives from the states of Rondônia, Roraima, and Amazonas participated in a virtual meeting with Santos Junior on October 25th. During this meeting, they urged the federal government to initiate the reconstruction of the BR-319 highway.

Santos Junior explained the delay in the approval of the BR-319 highway project when questioned by Debate Politico,

“The real reason is an environmentalist militancy in an institutional form, I will translate this word, these are people who follow the interests of international NGOs that are interested in harming Brazil’s development, that is the truth… These NGOs are financed with foreign capital… This is a form of commercial warfare that is carried out through these NGOs. This is already being investigated in the Senate through the CPI (parliamentary commission of inquiry) of NGOs, which is chaired by Senator Plínio Valério.”

Is the scrutiny of NGOs in Brazil being utilised as a strategy to reduce their influence on environmental protocols, possibly paving the way for large-scale projects in the Amazon without adhering to essential assessments, as well as reshaping partnerships away from Western partners to alternative stakeholders?

Deputy Fausto Santos Junior did not respond to my request for an interview.

Luiz Gastaldi Junior, owner of Nova Era supermarket chain and partner at Floresta Logistica, a logistics company, also expressed his concerns,

“In reality, it is a denial of citizenship, to all these people who are living and taking care of the Amazon, because in reality the integration of the Amazon, it is part of the national project to defend the Amazon, so the moment you deny access, you are also denying that there can be normal activity here.”

Gastaldi Junior is presently under investigation in Manaus for suspected involvement in the unlawful transportation of mining products, including gold.

Adelio Barofaldi, president of the Board of Directors of Pan Amazonia, president of the Association of Rural Landowners of Rondônia (ARPRO) and CEO of Rovema Group, expressed his full support for the BR-319 highway project. Barofaldi owns the largest network of car and truck dealers in the state and invests in energy and livestock.

Jonathan Benchimol, a prominent entrepreneur and managing partner at Fogás, a gas distribution company, is actively advocating for the restoration of the BR-319 highway,

“I’d like to remind people that during the oxygen crisis that occurred here in the city of Manaus and in the state of Amazonas during the Covid-19 scenario, the number of fatalities would have been much lower if BR-319 had been paved, oxygen could have flowed from Rondônia and other states of the federation through BR-319.”

In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, Manaus was recognized as one of the global Covid-19 epicenters, where the Gamma variant originated and accounted for two-thirds of Covid-19 deaths in Brazil. In 2021, during the second wave of the pandemic, oxygen supplies were allowed to run out with catastrophic consequences.

Politicians and business leaders are exploiting the catastrophic pandemic oxygen crisis in the Amazon as a pretext to push for the BR-319 highway project.

Studies carried out by renowned scientists Lucas Ferrante and Philip Fearnside, revealed that the devastating oxygen crisis in Manaus during the second wave of Covid-19, was the result of the Bolsonaro’s administration’s lack of logistical strategy. They chose to distribute oxygen in the region based on an impassable BR-319 highway, instead of using the most appropriate and safest transportation method, the Madeira River.

This tragic incident, resulting in hundreds of avoidable deaths, continues to be exploited for political purposes, advocating for infrastructure projects in the region, such as the BR-319 highway project.

The lobbying groups supporting the BR-319 highway project seem to be primarily interested in capitalising on the economic potential of the Amazon, with little concern on environmental, health and social issues.

Opponents Face Abuse and Intimidation

Marina Silva, Brazil minister of environment and climate change, has been the subject of numerous assaults and harassment from a group of legislators who endorse the BR-319 highway project. They have labeled her as guilty, an enemy, and accused her of practicing cross-eyed politics.

“The people of the North are not second-rate people. We want respect, investments and infrastructure. Marina Silva is an enemy of BR-319,” said federal deputy Captain Alberto Neto on Instagram on September 27. Neto is a supporter of former president Jair Bolsonaro. He called Silva “the enemy of the North.”

*Source: Capitao Alberto Neto’s Instagram*

In September, senator Omar Aziz declared, “if any Amazonian goes hungry, it’s Marina Silva’s fault”, as Silva is against the reconstruction of BR-319 highway without a solid basis in technical assessments. She is deeply concerned about the potential social and environmental consequences of this project.

Scientists who voice their concerns regarding the social and environmental implications of the BR-319 project also face intimidation, verbal attacks and even death threats.

The Intercept Brasil conducted an interview with Ferrante at a point when he could share his distressing experience. During this time, he had become the focal point of persecution, intimidation, and death threats due to his revelation, through his research, of the erosion of the Bolsonaro government’s environmental policies. He also predicted and warned the government about the second wave of Covid-19 in Manaus.

In September 2021, Fearnside became the victim of a xenophobic assault during a public hearing regarding the approval of the BR-319 highway project in Amazonas. This incident occurred after Fearnside had voiced criticism of the BR-319 highway project’s execution.

Fearnside responded to the verbal attack,

“At the time I was giving this speech, I also received attacks from other people who were in the audience. It’s important not to be intimidated by this, and it’s also good to remember the Constitution that prohibits any type of discrimination, based on national origin. The most important thing is not the episode itself, but the subject of BR-319.”

Health, Social & Environmental Impact

Lucas Ferrante, an environmental scientist, and Philip Fearnside, a biologist at Brazil’s National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA) and, who, together with other scientists in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, have jointly published multiple scientific studies that reveal the negative impacts of the BR-319 highway project on the Amazon rainforest.

“The reconstruction of BR-319 highway would provide agribusiness access to additional land, engage in more intensive livestock farming, and implement monoculture practices for large-scale biofuel production. Scientific studies published in both Land Use Policy and Nature suggest that this project could serve as an incentive for the expansion of cattle ranching, fossil fuel exploration and mining projects,” noted Ferrante.

Given the absence of governance in the vicinity of the BR-319 highway and the consistent pattern of deforestation along most Amazonian roads, the choice to reconstruct the BR-319 highway will bring catastrophic consequences. This decision will not only impact indigenous and riverside communities, it will also escalate deforestation rates, potentially leading to the collapse of the rainforest and the country’s rain cycle, as pointed out by a study published in Die Erde.

“Brazil must reassess infrastructure projects that increase deforestation in the region, and this includes examining the BR-319 highway project, which currently has 6,000 km of illicit extensions, a length six times greater than that of the BR-319 highway,” mentioned Ferrante.

The highway’s reconstruction is missing an essential economic feasibility study, as mandated by Law 5917/1973, and it has failed to undergo the necessary consultations with indigenous communities, as required by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 169 and Brazilian law 10,088/2019.

Fearnside revealed,

“Since 2015, the “maintenance” initiative for segments of the BR-319 highway has notably improved its trafficability. This initiative serves as a means to bypass the regulatory licensing process.

“Furthermore, the delay in the highway’s complete reconstruction can be attributed not only to its questionable economic viability, but also to the absence of an IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) license. Had a license been secured, it is likely that politicians would have allocated funds for the reconstruction, despite being aware of its economic impracticality.”

The BR-319 highway is not the only project we should be concerned about, explained Fearnside,

“Generally, there is a tendency to avoid any discussion of controversial infrastructure projects that are linked to the one that has a pending license. In this case, virtually all discussion is limited to the roadside of the BR-319 itself, ignoring the far-reaching effects of the side roads that a planned to link to this highway.

Most important is the planned AM-366 highway, which would allow deforesters to enter the vast area of the rainforest in the “Trans-Purus” region to the west of BR-319. Those evaluating the license application for the BR-319 highway project need to understand that approval would surely lead to subsequent building of the AM-366 highway, with enormous impacts for Brazil.

AM-366, classified as a state road, offers a relatively simpler licensing process. Plans in the area around this road include the oil and gas drilling blocks granted to the Russian oil company Rosneft in the planned “Solimões Sedimentary Area” project. AM-366 would also give access to a large area of “undesignated public land”, which is the most attractive for land grabbers, squatters, loggers and others. This situation could result in extensive deforestation, posing a catastrophic threat not only to Brazil but also to the global environment.”

A study conducted by Ferrante and Fearnside reveals the Amazon rainforest as a potential origin of the next pandemic. The study highlights how deforestation creates opportunities for disease agents to transition from the vast reservoir of various types of coronaviruses and other pathogens in the region into the human population. The Amazon’s precarious healthcare system further complicates the identification and containment of a new pandemic that might emerge from this area.

“Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest and other tropical regions increases the risk of emergence of new human diseases by increasing contact between rainforest wildlife (such as bats) and the human population and its domestic animals. It also contributes to climate change, which can create conditions favoring the emergence of parasitic, fungal, viral and bacterial infections,” explained Fearnside.

Politicians in the state of Amazonas are avid to have the BR-319 highway project approved, as its value in attracting votes is, as Ferrante and Fearnside’s publications show, the real motivation for the project. There are also backers of the project who stand to make substantial profits from the road. Meanwhile, traditional communities and the Amazon rainforest are left in a struggle for survival, gasping for breath, as they endure the adverse consequences.

Brazil’s Yanomami and the Rise of Ultra-Processed Foods

Monica Piccinini

11 October 2023

The Yanomami live in the rainforests of northern Brazil and southern Venezuela and are considered the largest isolated tribe in South America. The Brazilian state, corporations and illegal activities have for decades violated their rights and caused the deaths of countless Yanomami. However, they now face a growing new threat – from ultra-processed foods.

In the far northern region of Brazil, the Yanomami population consists of approximately 27,000 individuals, spread across more than 300 villages within the Yanomami indigenous territory, in an area of 9,664,975 hectares.

The health conditions afflicting the Yanonami community, including malnutrition and chronic diseases, are a result of the violation of their rights, unstable socio-economic conditions, and ongoing invasions of their territory. These circumstances have led to a social-environmental vulnerability within their population, placing their families, particularly children, at risk of consuming ultra-processed foods.

A study conducted by Brazil’s Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Fiocruz, offers groundbreaking insights into the dietary patterns of Yanomami indigenous youth. It reveals that more than 90% of Yanomami aged 6 to 59 months exhibit short stature (linear growth stunting).

“Without a doubt, the Yanomami increased consumption of carbohydrates, sugar, salt, fat, food additives, and low-nutrient highly processed foods, contributes to nutritional and metabolic health concerns, specifically among their children,” explained Jesem Douglas Yamall Orellana, Fiocruz researcher of public health and epidemiologist at Fiocruz, and one of the authors of the study.

According to Orellana, the heightened consumption of ultra-processed foods among the Yanomami children not only significantly exacerbates their pre-existing health issues, but also gives rise to new ones.

Numerous research findings have established associations between ultra-processed foods and various health concerns, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer, depression, multiple sclerosis (MS), cardiovascular disease, and even mortality.

Last month, Brazil’s national health council president, Fernando Zasso Pigatto, issued a recommendation with following note:

“Considering that, in the scenario of poverty and hunger, the Yanomami people are hostage to the supply of processed and ultra-processed products, in many cases expired, satisfying external interests, which worsens the scenario of infectious disease, malnutrition, deficiencies, nutritional and chronic diseases, such as the onset of diabetes, hypertension and obesity.”

Study Data

The study group reported that the minimally processed ‘regional’ foods consumed by the Yanomami consisted primarily of fruits (69%), followed by corn, roots, or tubers (45%), peach palm or palm heart (33%), fish or crab (33%), and couscous (32%), according to the most frequently mentioned items.

The ultra-processed foods most commonly mentioned were cakes or cookies (25%) and chocolate or chocolate powder (6%). Some also consume soft drinks, soda, candy, artificial juice and yogurt, canned foods, instant noodles, among other items.

The Fiocruz study was designed as a comprehensive survey for children residing in villages within three remote regions of the Brazilian Amazon, offering valuable data for this particularly under represented group.

The research group consisted of Yanomami children ranging from six months to five years old, and the investigation took place within three Yanomami communities located in the Brazilian Amazon: Maturaca, Ariabu, and Auaris.

*Map of the Yanomami Indigenous Territory, Brazilian Amazon. Image provided by Jesem Orellana.*

The residents of Maturaca and Ariabu villages usually have more regular interactions with non-indigenous communities, which include military personnel, healthcare workers, illegal miners, loggers and criminal groups.

In contrast, the Ariabu population is relatively isolated, having limited contact with urban communities. Consequently, they enjoy greater territorial mobility, affording them the freedom to practice their traditional way of life.

The research findings indicated that the consumption of ultra-processed foods was significantly more prevalent in children from Maturaca (11.6 times higher) and Ariabu (9.2 times higher) in comparison to the children from Auaris.

This observation emphasises the importance of social contact with non-indigenous communities as a critical factor influencing the consumption of ultra-processed foods.

Another intriguing finding from the study was a 31% reduction in ultra-processed food consumption among children whose mothers had shorter stature when compared to those whose mothers had a proper height.

Orellana explained, “Typically, the most economically disadvantaged mothers in the community can be identified as those with higher short stature rates, limited or no income, a background of enduring poverty, and a history of hardships that have stunted their growth into ‘short adults.’ These mothers lack the means to purchase and access ultra-processed foods, which, in turn, works to their advantage.”

The general occurrence of ultra-processed foods stood at 32%, and this was linked to both the location of residence and the height of the mothers.

The Culprits

The Yanomami are traditionally categorised as hunter-gatherers, but the frequent invasions of illegal miners, loggers, and criminal organisations into their territory have a direct influence on the areas from which they gather their food, consequently affecting their dietary patterns.

Their families are compelled to interact with non-indigenous communities, resulting in their exposure to urban centers and the consumption of ultra-processed foods with poor nutritional content, high energy density, low fibre and micronutrient content, and an abundance of preservatives and industrial additives.

According to Orellana, what caught the interest of the group of scientists was the correlation between the increased consumption of ultra-processed foods by the Yanomami and a higher likelihood of them abandoning their agricultural practices.

“The Yanomami were historically known for their semi-nomadic lyfestyle, moving to new areas every two years to allow their previously occupied lands to regenerate. Nowadays, they are reluctant to leave their territory due to the invasion of illegal miners, loggers and drug traffickers, which has instilled fear in them about the possibility of violent attacks,” explained Orellana.

Orellana added, “The Yanomami traditionally relied on their understanding of sun and lunar cycles, as well as rain and drought patterns, to observe and manage soil and land dynamics. However, recent shifts in weather patterns, including extreme climate conditions, have disrupted their ability to accurately determine the optimal planting times for crops like corn and cassava.

“Furthermore, they now face concerns about fishing due to the contamination of their rivers by illegal mining activities, particularly the presence of mercury. These environmental challenges have led the Yanomami to increasingly rely on ultra-processed foods, as they find themselves struggling to maintain their traditional practices.”

The developments observed among the Yanomami over the past two decades is similar to the experiences of nearly all indigenous populations in Brazil that have been in direct contact with non-indigenous communities for over 50 years.

“In the last nine months, we’ve observed specific actions undertaken by the federal government to address issues in areas previously identified as housing various invaders, and these actions have received considerable media coverage,” mentioned Orellana.

He detailed how certain national issues are manipulated and exploited by both the government and the media to further their interests:

“Extensive operations were conducted in these areas (Yanonami territory), featuring visits by the president and ministers. Once these matters were no longer the focal point, attention shifted to a different region. These undertakings are often referred to as ‘political spectacles’ rather than genuinely impactful operations.”

Climate change and frequent invasions into the Yanomami land by illegal miners, loggers, and criminal groups are the primary factors that impact their diet, well-being, and traditional lifestyle, making them crucial determinants of their survival.

Orellana pointed out several potential measures that could effectively address some of the problems impacting the Yanonami community:

“Immediate action is essential to establish control over the territory and impose severe and efficient penalties on intruders. Without these measures in place, the issues affecting the Yanomami, such as increased consumption of high-processed foods due to the disruptions in their traditional agricultural practices, which is detrimental to their well-being and cultural heritage, will persist without resolution.”

Article published in The Ecologist: https://theecologist.org/2023/oct/12/indigenous-tribes-made-ill-processed-foods

Article published in The Canary: https://www.thecanary.co/global/2023/10/10/yanomami-people-brazil-ultra-processed-food/

Article published in Portuguese in A Escola Legal: https://aescolalegal.com.br/blog/2023/10/11/yanomami-envenenados/

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