Drought brings Amazon tributary to lowest level in a century

One of the most important tributaries of the Amazon river has fallen to its lowest level in over a century, following a fierce drought that has isolated tens of thousands of rainforest inhabitants and raised concerns about the possible impact of climate change on the region.

Photo courtesy of Raimundo Valentim/EPA/CORBIS

James Cameron asks Lula to reconsider the project of Belo Monte

In Manaus, Cameron said that the environmental and social impacts of the plant need to be prioritized by the Brazilian government. "I beg to President Lula to reconsider," said Cameron.

Please note: This article is in Portuguese.

Photo courtesy of Kathy Willens/AP

"I do not damage the forest for a movie," says Cameron

James Cameron explains why you do not want to shoot in the Amazon rainforest.

Please note: This article is in Portuguese.

Photo courtesy of Kathy Willens/AP

GE Helps Brazilian Amazon Go Green

Breitener is converting two heavy fuel oil plants to use natural gas, which produces fewer emissions than heavy fuel oil. It will install 46 of GE’s low-emission Jenbacher gas engine sets to generate a combined 120 megawatts for the Amazon city of Manaus, northern Brazil’s second-largest city.

Photo courtesy of Brian Snyder/REUTERS

Texas duo paddle Amazon to raise awareness about decline of rainforest

Their mission? To learn about the people of the Amazon and raise awareness about the declining rainforests, which are disappearing at the rate of almost 15 million acres a year, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. That's about 23,000 football fields per day.

Photo courtesy of Steve Shepherd/Flickr

Amazon projects undercut Brazil's new green path

Perhaps the biggest worry for environmentalists is the planned pavement of the BR 319 motorway between Porto Velho and Manaus, which leads through one of the most pristine areas of the Amazon with a high biodiversity and many endemic species.

[Photograph by: Iberê Thenório/Globo Amazônia]

Brazil working to reclaim Amazon rainforest

``We must add economic value to the forest,'' said Amazonas state Gov. Eduardo Braga, whose eco-subsidies, environmental endowment and plans to sell carbon credits to California have made the area around Manaus a public lab for sustainable forestry.

[Photograph by: Roosewelt Pinheiro/ABr]

Faces of the Amazon

Often lost in glossy picture books about the Amazon, is the fact that 21 million people in Brazil alone live in the Amazon territory. To be exact 20,998,731 according to the latest census.

[Photograph by: Survival International]

Smoke over the Amazon

The ugly side was the thick haze over the forest. This month is the dry part of the year, when people start to burn patches of the forest as the first step to clear cutting.

[Photograph by: Dado Galdier/AP]

Climate conference: The view from Sao Paulo

Too few presidents

Nicolas Sarkozy can find the time to come 5,100 miles from Paris to Manaus? But Peru’s president Alan Garcia – whose country has about 11 per cent of the total Amazon territory inside its borders – can’t find the time to do a short day-trip flight from Lima to Manaus?

[Photograph by: Martin Mejia/AP]

Group of scientists asks for cancellation of the reconstruction of the BR-319

A group of scientists published an open letter to president Lula asking for the cancellation of the reconstruction of highway BR-319, which connects Porto Velho to Manaus. The main argument is that the road would more bring deforestation for one of the preserved regions of the Amazon.

Please note: This article is in Portuguese.

[Photograph by: Iberê Thenório/Globo Amazônia]

Op-Ed: Trucks, Trains and Trees

Flying in here by prop plane from Manaus, you can understand why the Amazon rainforest is considered one of the lungs of the world. Even from 20,000 feet, all you see in every direction is an unbroken expanse of rainforest treetops that, from the air, looks like a vast and endless carpet of broccoli.

[Photograph by: Nancy Ostertag/Getty Images]

Diary: Amazon road trip

The Brazilian government is seeking to repave the almost impassable BR-319 route between Porto Velho and Manaus. But the plan is controversial because the 900km (560 mile) road cuts right through the Amazon rainforest.

[Photograph by: Haino]

River of plenty

It's almost impossible to comprehend the overwhelming scale of the Amazon River and its influence on planet Earth. The drainage basin covers about one-half of South America and gathers water from nine countries.

[Photograph by: ABC News]