Episode 22: Road Warriors

Fernanda Abra leads a crucial conservation initiative along the roadways of Brazil, where vehicles annually kill about 475 million vertebrates — more than double the country’s human population. She spearheads over 300 projects targeting roads with high wildlife casualties.

Her approach includes installing underpasses and canopy bridges to ensure safe travel for terrestrial wildlife, like big cats, and arboreal creatures like monkeys, effectively reducing roadkill mortality. These structures also reconnect fragmented habitats, promoting genetic diversity and overall population health across various species.

Abra’s efforts not only decrease wildlife deaths but also illustrate the successful merging of conservation with infrastructure development, setting a precedent for worldwide practices that harmonize human progress with environmental stewardship.