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Development, environmental degradation, and disease spread in the Brazilian Amazon

Author

Listed:
  • Marcia C Castro
  • Andres Baeza
  • Cláudia Torres Codeço
  • Zulma M Cucunubá
  • Ana Paula Dal’Asta
  • Giulio A De Leo
  • Andrew P Dobson
  • Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar
  • Raquel Martins Lana
  • Rachel Lowe
  • Antonio Miguel Vieira Monteiro
  • Mercedes Pascual
  • Mauricio Santos-Vega

Abstract

The Amazon is Brazil’s greatest natural resource and invaluable to the rest of the world as a buffer against climate change. The recent election of Brazil’s president brought disputes over development plans for the region back into the spotlight. Historically, the development model for the Amazon has focused on exploitation of natural resources, resulting in environmental degradation, particularly deforestation. Although considerable attention has focused on the long-term global cost of “losing the Amazon,” too little attention has focused on the emergence and reemergence of vector-borne diseases that directly impact the local population, with spillover effects to other neighboring areas. We discuss the impact of Amazon development models on human health, with a focus on vector-borne disease risk. We outline policy actions that could mitigate these negative impacts while creating opportunities for environmentally sensitive economic activities.This Perspective article maintains that a development model for the Amazon must be bold, creative, carefully planned, and sustainable, explicitly acknowledging the importance of public health in reinforcing economic development, environmental protection, and land use change.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcia C Castro & Andres Baeza & Cláudia Torres Codeço & Zulma M Cucunubá & Ana Paula Dal’Asta & Giulio A De Leo & Andrew P Dobson & Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar & Raquel Martins Lana & Rachel Lowe & Anto, 2019. "Development, environmental degradation, and disease spread in the Brazilian Amazon," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(11), pages 1-8, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pbio00:3000526
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000526
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sérgio Wulff Gobetti & Rodrigo Octávio Orair, 2017. "Taxation and distribution of income in Brazil: new evidence from personal income tax data," Brazilian Journal of Political Economy, Center of Political Economy, vol. 37(2), pages 267-286.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ana Clara Andrade & Luiz Alberto Dolabela Falcão & Magno Augusto Zazá Borges & Marcos Esdras Leite & Mário Marcos do Espírito Santo, 2024. "Are Land Use and Cover Changes and Socioeconomic Factors Associated with the Occurrence of Dengue Fever? A Case Study in Minas Gerais State, Brazil," Resources, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-18, March.
    2. Arindam Das & Pia A. Albinsson, 2023. "Consumption Culture and Critical Sustainability Discourses: Voices from the Global South," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-19, May.
    3. Humberto Laudares & Pedro Henrique Gagliardi, 2020. "Is Deforestation Spreading COVID-19 to the Indigenous Peoples?," Working Papers 08, Instituto de Estudos para Políticas de Saúde.

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