The Brazilian government has established four new sustainable development reserves in the Amazon, covering more than 668,000 hectares, as part of efforts to address environmental concerns related to the planned paving of the BR-319 highway. This highway passes through a critical, intact area of the rainforest, raising fears among conservationists about increased deforestation.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed decrees on September 8th that designate these areas for protection under a sustainable-use model. This model permits existing residents to remain and continue extracting forest products. The reserves will be managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation. Additionally, buffer zones have been created around three of the reserves, adding another 109,718 hectares of protected land, though mining may be allowed in these buffer areas.
Source: Mongabay