Brazilian court orders restoration of Fordlandia, Henry Ford's Amazon city

A Brazilian court has ruled that officials must restore and preserve Fordlandia.

The city was established by Henry Ford nearly a century ago in the Amazon rainforest.

Prosecutors said Friday that the decision from two weeks ago marks a significant milestone in heritage protection.

Fordlandia was built in 1927 by the Ford Motor Co. as a rubber-tapping metropolis.

Disease ravaged the plantations and that led to the city’s abandonment.

Prosecutors sued for its preservation in 2015.

A judge ruled on May 15 that authorities must restore Fordlandia because of its historical and cultural significance.

The ruling requires a recovery plan with potential penalties for noncompliance.