Brazilian official: Urbanization in Amazon Basin raises concerns

Urbanization in the Amazon Basin is a growing concern, Antonio Da Costa e Silva, Head of the International Relations Department at Brazil's Ministry of Cities, stated during an event held within the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Report informs.

The official explained that 77% of the Amazon Basin's population lives in cities, some of which are large urban centers like Belém and Manaus: "It is no surprise that, due to urbanization challenges common across Latin America – and certainly present in the Amazon region – some of Brazil's cities with the highest rates of informal settlements are located here. In Belém, 57% of residents live in informal housing, while in Manaus the figure is 55.8%. Other cities in the region also face high rates: Santarém at about 30% and Macapá at around 27%."

He stressed that inequality and vulnerability go hand in hand in the Amazon: "We cannot speak of a sustainable Amazon region without addressing urbanization, inclusivity, and vulnerability issues."