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Mongabay

Zero roadkill as Amazon canopy bridges secure 15,000 crossings

In Brazil, eight canopy bridges installed in 2024 have enabled 15,000 safe crossings by arboreal animals over 15 months, with no recorded roadkill in the area. The initiative, led by Projeto Reconecta, connects fragmented forest patches and helps maintain biodiversity by allowing animals to move safely across highways. The success has prompted Brazil’s federal transport department to adopt the rope bridge design as a national standard to reduce wildlife deaths on roads. The project is now expanding to other regions in Brazil and neighboring Suriname.

What happened

Eight canopy bridges in the Amazon allowed 15,000 arboreal animals to cross roads safely without any roadkill over 15 months.

Why it matters

These bridges help protect endangered species, maintain genetic diversity, and reduce the impact of roads on wildlife by reconnecting fragmented habitats.

Why it belongs here

This solution shows how low-cost, innovative infrastructure can support both conservation and local communities, offering a hopeful model for coexistence.

animalsscience

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