Roads, dams and other infrastructure

Infrastructure development is a consequence of increased trade, economic growth and political integration in the Amazon countries. This can be a good thing for the people who live here. But if it’s not planned carefully and with respect for the environment and local people, it can also be devastating for landscapes, wildlife and vulnerable communities.

A lot of damage is done in and around the Amazon by:

• roads,
• hydro-electric projects,
• oil drilling and pipelines,
• power lines,
• canals, and
• ports.

These developments can lead to forest loss, interruption of rivers (which affects fish populations), soil/water contamination and more. New roads inevitably make previously undisturbed forest areas more accessible to logging and illegal occupation, so the damage often spreads and accelerates, unless measures are put in place to stop it.  

As part of its wider Amazon programme, WWF works with governments, planners and investors to make sure they minimise the environmental and social impacts of new infrastructure projects. They’ve also developed an information system that highlights priority places for conservation, so that these can be identified and respected when new projects are proposed.

Find out more on WWF’s website.