F1NewsHound

Rio F1 racetrack plans add fuel to Brazil deforestation row

15-Oct-2020 13:07:28 | The Guardian

Most of city’s last flatland area along with 180,000 trees would be destroyed if project goes ahead

Locals say anteaters, caimans, capybaras, and a 4-metre jibóia snake have all been seen near Rio de Janeiro’s Camboatá Forest recently. The 200-hectare (494-acre) forest is an island of wildlife in a city of 6.7 million people, home to 21 endangered species including black-backed tanager birds and the cloud-fish, a tiny orange creature whose eggs survive in dried-out water holes and hatch when the rains come again.

But most of Rio’s last flatland area of sub-tropical Atlantic Forest and its 180,000 trees will be demolished if plans go ahead to build a new Formula 1 racetrack over it.