Stunning archaeological discoveries made in Brazil in recent years have upended conventional wisdom about the forests of the western Amazon.
According to Simon Romero, writing in the New York Times, the massive deforestation that has occurred in the Amazon, beginning in the 1970s, has exposed "flawlessly designed geometric shapes spanning hundreds of yards in diameter." The new findings could have an impact on our understanding of the ecological history of the Amazon and on the ongoing debate about razing parts of the forest to support agriculture or grazing.
"Instead of being pristine forests, barely inhabited by people, parts of the Amazon may have been home for centuries to large populations numbering well into the thousands and living in dozens of towns connected by road networks, explains the American writer Charles C. Mann."
According to Denise Schaan, an archaeologist at the Federal University of Pará in Brazil who now leads research on the geoglyphs, "the earthworks are 'one of the most important discoveries of our time.' But the repopulation of this part of the Amazon threatens the survival of the geoglyphs, after being hidden for centuries."
FULL STORY: Once Hidden by Forest, Carvings in Land Attest to Amazon’s Lost World
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing
The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents
The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie