Global Road Map to Conflict and Loss
Publisher: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Radio Breakfast
Author(s): Fran Kelly
Date: 2014
Topics: Land
Countries: Congo (DRC)
Roads have the potential to cause massive conflict and environmental destruction into the future. Dr Bill Lawrence, James Cook University, one of the authors of the new study published in Nature "A Global Strategy for Road Building" spoke with ABC Radio Breakfast. Dr Lawrence said that most of pressure in this area will come in developing nations that are experiencing the most significant expansion of road and highway systems, in areas where there are important environmental values. "The problem is that these roads open up a pandora's box of environmental problems. When you have a road going out into wilderness areas, you get an invasion of illegal loggers, miners, hunters, land speculators and so on... As a consequence there have been a massacre of forest elephants as there is no place left to hide from loggers." 2 maps were developed in this study. An ecosystems map includes areas with high biodiversity and endangered species, critical habitat, wilderness areas, and ecosystem services. The road benefits map looks at where it is best to put roads to increase food production without compromising environmental values. It is estimated that 17% of the planet will be in zone where there are high environmental values and high potential for conflict.