Brazil: 2012

Mario Tama, a Getty Images staff photographer since 2001 and based in New York, has covered conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan - as well as numerous humanitarian crises and natural disasters in the US and around the world, including most recently the earthquake in Haiti and the tornadoes in Joplin, Missouri. He's also spent extensive time documenting Hurricane Katrina and it's aftermath. Mario will be working on several feature stories in Brazil, ahead of the Rio +20 UN Conference on Sustainable Energy, his first work featured in this post. The summit aims to overcome years of deadlock over environmental concerns and marks the 20th anniversary of the landmark Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. Brazil is now the world's sixth largest economy and is set to host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. Mario’s' editor on the project describes him as passionate and enthusiastic about showing us pieces of a country in which he has traveled before, drawn by the people, the culture and the economics/development of the region. -- Paula Nelson (48 photos total)

Federal highway BR-222, June 9, 2012 in Para state, Brazil. Highway construction through Amazonian rainforest has led to accelerated rates of deforestation. Although deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is down 80 percent since 2004, environmentalists fear recent changes to the Forest Code will lead to further destruction. Around 20 percent of the rainforest has already been destroyed. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

A lone remaining Amazon rainforest tree stands in a deforested section of Amazon rainforest, June 9, 2012 in Para state, Brazil. The Brazilian Amazon, home to 60 percent of the world's largest forest and 20 percent of the earth's oxygen, remains threatened by the rapid development of the country. The area is currently populated by over 20 million people and is challenged by deforestation, agriculture, mining, a governmental dam building spree, illegal land speculation including the occupation of forest reserves and indigenous land and other issues.(Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A truck transporting illegally harvested Amazon rainforest logs is broken down on a road near protected indigenous land, June 10, 2012 near the Arariboia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhao state, Brazil. Guajajara tribe members on the reserve say their forests are being plundered by illegal loggers who killed a member of their tribe who attempted to resist. According to the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), which tracks rainforest destruction by satellite, 242 square kilometers in the reserve have already been destroyed. From 1987-2011, 1.1 million hectares of wood disappeared in protected indigenous reserves, according to the Brazilian government. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A man on a motorbike passes a truck illegally transporting harvested Amazon rainforest logs on a road near protected indigenous land, June 10, 2012 near the Arariboia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhao state, Brazil. Guajajara tribe members on the reserve say their forests are being plundered by illegal loggers who killed a member of their tribe who attempted to resist. The area is currently populated by over 20 million people and is challenged by deforestation, agriculture, mining, a governmental dam building spree, illegal land speculation including the occupation of forest reserves and indigenous land and other issues. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

A worker loads illegally harvested Amazon rainforest wood into an oven to be heated into wood charcoal, June 8, 2012 in Rondon do Para, Brazil. According to a recent Greenpeace study, illegal wood charcoal is primarily used in Brazil to power smelters producing pig iron, which is used to make steel for industries including U.S. auto manufacturing. Illegal charcoal camps were found to sometimes result in slave labor and the destruction of rainforest on protected indigenous lands. Between 2003-2011, 2,700 charcoal camp workers were liberated from conditions akin to slavery, according to Greenpeace. This worker said he was being paid $15 per day. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

Workers prepare to load illegally harvested Amazon rainforest wood up a ladder onto a truck, June 8, 2012 in Rondon do Para, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A worker hauls a bag of charcoal produced from illegally harvested Amazon rainforest wood onto a truck, June 8, 2012 in Rondon do Para, Brazil. According to a recent Greenpeace study, illegal wood charcoal is primarily used in Brazil to power smelters producing pig iron, which is used to make steel for industries including U.S. auto manufacturing. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A worker takes a break from loading charcoal produced from illegally harvested Amazon rainforest wood, June 8, 2012 in Rondon do Para, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

Charcoal produced from illegally harvested Amazon rainforest wood, June 8, 2012 in Rondon do Para. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A worker carries a bag of charcoal up a ladder onto a truck, June 8, 2012 in Rondon do Para, Brazil. According to a recent Greenpeace study, illegal wood charcoal is primarily used in Brazil to power smelters producing pig iron.(Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A worker carries a bag of charcoal produced from illegally harvested Amazon rainforest wood up a ladder onto a truck, June 8, 2012 in Rondon do Para, Brazil. The Brazilian Amazon, home to 60 percent of the world's largest forest and 20 percent of the earth's oxygen, remains threatened by the rapid development of the country. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A worker's back is covered with charcoal, June 8, 2012 in Rondon do Para, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A lone remaining Amazon rainforest tree stands in a deforested section of Amazon rainforest, June 11, 2012 in Para state, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A train operated by Vale, a mining company and Brazil's biggest exporter, crosses a bridge, June 9, 2012 in Acailandia, Brazil. The railroad transports iron ore from the world's largest mine on its way to a port to be exported. The 554-mile line uses a train comprised of 330 cars and four locomotives and is the main lifeline of the country's iron industry. The iron ore is used to produce pig iron, which is created in smelters fired by charcoal produced from illegally harvested Amazon rainforest wood. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A bicyclist and motorcycle pass one another on a bridge near a deforested section of Amazon rainforest, June 11, 2012 in Para state, Brazil. Although deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is down 80 percent since 2004, environmentalists fear recent changes to the Forest Code will lead to further destruction. Around 20 percent of the rainforest has already been destroyed. Progress has come at a cost to the country's natural resources. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

Christians celebrate the holiday of Corpus Christi, June 7, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. Belem is considered the entrance gate to the Amazon and for more than 300 years, boats have unloaded their wares from deep in the Amazon at the city's historic Ver-o-Peso market. The city is home to more than 2 million people in the metropolitan area and is the main port for international shipping in the Amazon. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Christians dance in the streets to celebrate the holiday of Corpus Christi, June 7, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

Christians celebrate the holiday of Corpus Christi, June 7, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

Catholic nuns celebrate the holiday of Corpus Christi, June 7, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

Christians celebrate the holiday of Corpus Christi, June 7, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. Brazil has the largest number of Catholics in the world. Roman Catholicism has been Brazil's main religion since the beginning of the 16th century.(Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

Guajajara indigenous tribe members watch a soccer match in their village on protected Amazonian indigenous land, June 10, 2012 in the Arariboia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhao state, Brazil. Tribe members say their forests are being plundered by illegal loggers who killed tribe member who attempted to resist. According to the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), which tracks rainforest destruction by satellite, 242 square kilometers in the reserve have already been destroyed. From 1987-2011, 1.1 million hectares of wood disappeared in protected indigenous reserves in Maranhao state. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

Guajajara indigenous tribe members gather in their village on protected Amazonian indigenous land, June 10, 2012 in the Arariboia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhao state, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

Amazonian herbal remedies are for sale at the historic Ver-o-Peso market, June 7, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. Belem is considered the entrance gate to the Amazon and for more than 300 years, boats have unloaded their wares from deep in the Amazon at the market. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

Workers offload baskets of acai berry at sunrise at the historic Ver-o-Peso market, June 6, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

Amazonian fish are for sale at the historic Ver-o-Peso market, June 6, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. Belem is considered the entrance gate to the Amazon and for more than 300 years, boats have unloaded their wares from deep in the Amazon at the market. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A fisherman stacks coolers used to store fish while docked at the historic Ver-o-Peso market, June 6, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

Workers offload products from boats at Ver-o-Peso market, June 7, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

Workers rest by the water at the historic Ver-o-Peso market, June 6, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. Belem is considered the entrance gate to the Amazon and for more than 300 years, boats have unloaded their wares from deep in the Amazon at the market. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

A worker prepares Amazonian flowers and plants at the historic Ver-o-Peso market, June 7, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

People shop for fish at the historic Ver-o-Peso market, June 6, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. Fishermen and others who make their livelihood on the waters of the Amazon basin face a variety of environmental hazards including pollution from mining, agricultural runoff and silting of the waters caused by deforestation. "Ver-o-Peso" means "see the weight" and was named after the colonial Portuguese mandatory weighing of merchandise to be taxed for the Portuguese crown. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

Family members rest on their fishing boat docked at the historic Ver-o-Peso market, June 7, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. "Ver-o-Peso" means "see the weight" and was named after the colonial Portuguese mandatory weighing of merchandise to be taxed for the Portuguese crown. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A worker stands along the riverfront at the historic Ver-o-Peso market, June 6, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. Fishermen and others who make their livelihood on the waters of the Amazon basin face a variety of environmental hazards including pollution from mining, agricultural runoff and silting of the waters caused by deforestation. "Ver-o-Peso" means "see the weight" and was named after the colonial Portuguese mandatory weighing of merchandise to be taxed for the Portuguese crown. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A fisherman rests on his boat docked at the historic Ver-o-Peso market, June 7, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A worker offloads baskets of acai berry at the historic Ver-o-Peso market at dawn, June 7, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. The acai berry is a small, round black-purple fruit, similar in appearance, but smaller than a grape and with less pulp. In a study of three traditional populations in the Brazilian Amazon, acai palm was described as the most important plant species because it makes up a major compoment of their diet. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

Workers offload baskets of acai berry before sunrise at the historic Ver-o-Peso market, June 7, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

People gather outside the historic Ver-o-Peso market, June 6, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. Belem is considered the entrance gate to the Amazon and for more than 300 years, boats have unloaded their wares from deep in the Amazon at the market. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

People gather along the water at a former riverside port converted into an entertainment complex, June 7, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. Over 100 heads of state and tens of thousands of participants and protesters will descend on Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, later this month for the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development or "Earth Summit". Host Brazil is caught up in its own dilemma between accelerated growth and environmental preservation. The summit aims to overcome years of deadlock over environmental concerns and marks the 20th anniversary of the landmark Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, which delivered the Climate Convention and a host of other promises. Brazil is now the world's sixth largest economy. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

Boys bicycle in the Amazonian town of Acailandia, June 11, 2012 in Acailandia, Brazil. The boomtown was founded when a highway was carved through the rainforest and loggers quickly felled the valuable trees in the area for profit. The town now has a population of 104,000 and houses a number of smelters which produce pig iron. The smelters are usually fuelled with charcoal created from illegally harvested Amazon rainforest wood. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A Guajajara indigenous tribe member cartwheels in her village on protected Amazonian indigenous land, June 10, 2012 in the Arariboia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhao state, Brazil. Tribe members say their forests are being plundered by illegal loggers who killed tribe member who attempted to resist. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A mother and son sit in the water in the Amazonian town of Acailandia, June 9, 2012 in Acailandia, Brazil. The boomtown was founded when a highway was carved through the rainforest and loggers quickly felled the valuable trees in the area for profit. The town now has a population of 104,000 and houses a number of smelters which produce pig iron. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A teenager jumps into the water in front of a railroad bridge operated by Vale, a mining company and Brazil's biggest exporter, June 9, 2012 in Acailandia, Brazil. The railroad transports iron ore from the world's largest mine across the bridge on its way to a port to be exported. The 554-mile line uses a train comprised of 330 cars and four locomotives and is the main lifeline of the country's iron industry. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A man relaxes in the water in the Amazonian town of Acailandia, June 9, 2012 in Acailandia, Brazil. The boomtown was founded when a highway was carved through the rainforest. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

People swim in front of a railroad bridge operated by Vale, a mining company and Brazil's biggest exporter, June 9, 2012 in Acailandia, Brazil. The railroad transports iron ore from the world's largest mine across the bridge on its way to a port to be exported. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

Illegal burning clears brush and small trees for agriculture in an already deforested section of Amazon rainforest, June 11, 2012 in Maraba, Brazil. Although deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is down 80 percent since 2004, environmentalists fear recent changes to the Forest Code will lead to further destruction. Around 20 percent of the rainforest has already been destroyed. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A soybean field on deforested land, June 9, 2012 in Para state, Brazil. Although deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is down 80 percent since 2004, environmentalists fear recent changes to the Forest Code will lead to further destruction. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

Drivers pass through deforested land along federal highway BR-222, June 9, 2012 in Para state, Brazil. Highway construction through Amazonian rainforest has led to accelerated rates of deforestation. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A worker looks down on an ecological park showcasing Amazonian foliage, June 6, 2012 in Belem, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) 

A deforested section of Amazon rainforest is seen in the mist from an airplane at dawn, June 8, 2012 in Para state, Brazil. Over 100 heads of state and tens of thousands of participants and protesters will descend on Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, later this month for the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development or "Earth Summit". Host Brazil is caught up in its own dilemma between accelerated growth and environmental preservation. The summit aims to overcome years of deadlock over environmental concerns and marks the 20th anniversary of the landmark Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, which delivered the Climate Convention and a host of other promises. Brazil is now the world's sixth largest economy and is set to host the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)