Roads benefit people but can have massive environmental costs

Laurance, William F.

Abstract

[Extract] Located in the wrong places, roads can open a Pandora's Box of problems, says William F. Laurance In a recent Opinion in National Geographic News ("Want to make a dent in world hunger? Build better roads", 14 October 2014), U.S. Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn makes a compelling case that roads can have major benefits for rural people—improving access to modern farming technologies, education, and healthcare, and even limiting the influence of extremist groups that prey on isolated communities. However, Ambassador Quinn tells only half of the story. Yes, many roads or road improvements can yield major economic and social benefits. But other roads become environmental disasters—opening a Pandora's Box of problems such as illegal logging, poaching, wildfires, and land speculation.

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National Geographic News Watch

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2014

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19 October

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