Trees for Oil

Slowly roads in the west Amazon have been growing in size, deforesting as they go. Now covering an area the size of Texas these roads that service oil and gas mines have grown around 150,000 Km² Since 2008 now covering about 880,000 Km². These roads open up areas for illegal logging and hunting within the Amazon. Studies have reported that treating the drills as inland offshore operations might be the key to ending the usage of roads. Just as with an offshore drill, helicopters and boats would be the only way to reach them. The additional emissions from the transportation would be offset by the reduction in roads and buildings. Read more at the Guardian.

Photo: Environmental Research Letters