The controversial Ferrogrão mega-railway has remained halted by an injunction for two years. But now the disastrous infrastructure project proposed to slice through the Brazilian Amazon is a renewed threat.

On May 31, a Supreme Court judge lifted the injunction to allow studies and administrative processes to resume. The railway is regarded as one of the most anti-environmental projects being considered by Lula de Silva’s government and has even been dubbed the “new Belo Monte.”

With support from Amazon Watch, a delegation of Munduruku leaders and representatives traveled to Brasília to attend the Supreme Court ruling to voice their opposition, protest against the Ferrogrão, and defend their constitutional rights.

“The railroad could be the end of the line for the Amazon,” according to Alessandra Munduruku and Chief Juarez Soares. “Its 993 km of track would open the way for all sorts of invaders ... who would bring more insecurity and violence to those who live in the forest. If built, Ferrogrão will bring the need for new ports, waterways, and highways, an infrastructure requiring more energy. [It would be] the perfect excuse to push through the São Luiz hydroelectric plant on the Tapajós, the last tributary of the right bank of the Amazon without dams.”