Brazil grants permit to pave highway through Amazon forest

Brazil's minister of infrastructure said that Brazil's environment authorities have granted initial approval for the construction of a major highway through the centre of the Amazon rainforest, an action that could increase deforestation. Brazil's right-wing president Jair Bolsanaro promised to re-asphalt the road called BR-319. The road will connect the largest Amazonian city of Manaus with the rest of the country all year round.

The roadway, which was built in the 1970s during Brazil's military dictatorship, corroded in the harsh rainforest environment. Most of the route is an impassable stretch of mud during the approximately six-month rainy season, Reuters reported.

According to experts, paving the roadway would mean land grabbers and illegal loggers would easily gain access to the untouched areas of the rainforest. 

Infrastructure Minister Marcelo Sampaio posted an image of the license from environmental agency Ibama on Twitter. “In an alignment of engineering and respect for the environment, we are going to take the society of Amazonas state out of isolation," he wrote.

The government will be able to contract companies to pave the middle section of the road that is in the worst condition, under the initial license.  "I hope soon there's one more license on the way and our (Transportation Department) can start bidding and work for paving BR-319," Bolsonaro said.