Road construction in the rainforest

Road and highway construction in the rainforest opens up large areas to deforestation. In Brazil, the Trans-Amazonian highway resulted in the destruction of huge areas of forest by colonists, loggers, and land speculators. In Africa, logging roads give access to poachers who hunt endangered wildlife as “bushmeat” or meat sold to city dwellers. Some of the poached wildlife—especially rhinos, pangolin, and tigers—goes to Asia where it is used for traditional Chinese medicine.

Therefore it is very important that when new roads are built in rainforest areas, they are carefully planned to minimize the environmental impacts. One way to reduce deforestation from road construction is to create protected areas on either side of the road.

RAINFOREST PHOTOS

Logging operation in Borneo

Damage from a graphite mine near Mantandia

Bulldozers in the field near a tract of forest
(Gabon)

Mining road
(Suriname)

Logging road in Borneo
(Malaysia)

Logging truck carrying timber out of the Malaysian rainforest
(Malaysia)

Logging truck in Borneo

Logging road -- sabah_aerial_2396

Logging road in Borneo -- sabah_aerial_0528

ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN THE RAINFOREST