The Brazilian government’s plans to repair and pave four highways could lead to the deforestation of up to 72,000 square miles of the Amazon rainforest over the next 25 to 30 years, according to a new study by enviros. The planned improvements to more than 2,000 miles of roads would give loggers easier access to the Amazon. The study also warns that the road plan could cause another 74,800 square miles of rainforest to be destroyed by small farmers and ranchers who clear land using slash-and-burn methods, which increases the risk of forest fires.
