MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Amazon rain forest in peril.

American universities and a Brazilian environment research center have warned that the Brazilian government's plan to repair and pave four highways could cause irreparable damage in the coming twenty years to the Amazon rain forest.

With funding from the federal government under the program "Advance Brazil", 3,500 kilometers of roads in four states will be developed, but this could have a devastating impact for 28 to 42% of the forest's four million square kilometers, according to excerpts published in the Brazilian press.

Researchers believe that once roads are finished, loggers and farmers will swamp onto to untouched vegetation, speeding deforestation and soil erosion.

Apparently the 40 billion US dollars plan also includes building dams for electricity generation and irrigation.

The document was prepared by scientists form the Oregon and Michigan States universities and the respected Brazilian National Institute of Amazon Research.