Does a new road through an environmentally sensitive area cause damage?

In most cases the answer is a resounding “yes”.

Analysing my databank of years at UNEP, the worst-case scenario I found was the TRANS-AMAZON HIGHWAY in Brazil. Even the construction teams started settlements, killed wildlife, burnt the forest, chased away the indigenous populations and generally caused havoc. This was nothing compared to what was to follow when settlers moved in to try and replace Amazon forest- ecosystems with unsustainable cattle ranching!

The best solution… (assuming a road HAS TO BE BUILT across a fragile area) is to declare the land on both sides of the new road as protected National Heritage. The highway then serves only as an easy means of getting from point A to point B (in this case from the East coast to the Plaisance area), not as an access road to the forest area it cuts across. All temporary shelters and tons of rubble generated by the builders would of course be removed, as part of the building contract, once the “scenic” highway is ready.

Dr. Michael Atchia</B>