The Brazilian Equatorial Margin, located along the country’s northern coast between the states of Amapá and Rio Grande do Norte, is considered the new frontier for deep-water oil exploration (1). Recent oil discoveries in the waters of nearby countries, such as Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname (2), highlight a potential that attracts the Brazilian industry and the international oil and gas market. However, this region, which includes the mouth of the Amazon River, harbors biodiversity that provides environmental services to a large riverine and Indigenous population (3, 4). Brazil’s government, which recently took the first step toward protecting these ecosystems and the people who rely on them, should continue to prioritize environmental protection over profit.
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