Drought in Manaus leads to difficulty in getting around Reproduction/TV The lack of economic opportunities and low wages, especially among young people, increase political pressure that favors deforestation in Amazonas. The conclusion is in the report “Productive Rematamento, Conservation and Economic Development in the Brazilian Amazon”, released by the Amazônia 2030 project. The study, published in June, points out that informality and social vulnerability in the Legal Amazon mean that part of the population sees environmental preservation as an obstacle. The reason is the lack of alternative income. In the region, the average income per person is R$654 per month, below the R$1,074 recorded in the rest of the country. "Command and control actions are important, however, without viable economic alternatives, they are seen locally as a threat to the future and, therefore, resisted", assesses Denis Minev, CEO of a retail store and investor in sustainable initiatives in the region, in a statement cited in the report. ? Join the g1 AM channel on WhatsApp The economic situation also influences the polls and electoral behavior in Amazonas. The electorate tends to support proposals that promise jobs and immediate infrastructure projects, even if they bring associated environmental risks. Pressure on the standing forest Aerial image of an overflight monitoring deforestation in the Amazon in the municipality of Lábrea, Amazonas, carried out on March 26, 2022 reenpeace/Disclosure The report shows that Amazonas concentrates most of the so-called “Forest Amazon”. This area has already lost around 8 million hectares of forest. Half of this deforestation occurred after 2004, which indicates that destruction continues to advance in areas that are still preserved. Researchers warn that the expansion of infrastructure without planning could take the Amazon to the “point of no return”, with a direct impact on rainfall and the climate throughout Brazil. Read also Decree that reduces legal reserves in AM is considered unconstitutional, experts say New environmental licensing law threatens Conservation Units and biodiversity in AM, experts say The way out through 'Productive Rematamento' The report proposes “productive reforestation” as an alternative to reducing deforestation and combating poverty. The idea is to use already deforested areas or degraded pastures for the commercial planting of high-value tropical and native species. Unlike reforestation projects focused solely on the environment, the model seeks to create large-scale production chains. The objective is to generate permanent, better-paid jobs in Amazonas. The plan also foresees attracting private investments and connecting Amazonas to bioeconomy markets in Brazil and abroad. Amazonas leads conservation with protected area larger than Uruguay