Human and Environmental Costs of South American Integration
Scientists from around the world met to discuss the effects of the proposed Initiative for the Integration of the Regional Infrastructure of South America (IIRSA), the continent's new vehicle for improving physical connections between the nations of South America.
Tim Killeen, a senior scientist at Conservation International, presented a paper at the meeting entitled "A Perfect Storm in the Amazon Wilderness: Development and Conservation in the Context of IIRSA.
" According to Killeen, "Failure to foresee the full impact of IIRSA investments, particularly in the context of climate change and global markets, could lead to a perfect storm of environmental destruction.
At stake are the greatest tropical wilderness area on the planet and the multiple benefits it provides.
" His concerns were highlighted this week when Presidents Uribe and Chavez, of Colombia and Venezuela respectively, invited Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa to witness the opening of the new Ballenas-Maracaibo oil pipeline between their two countries.
The invitation included the possibility of negotiating an extension of the pipeline south into Ecuador.
While not inherently bad news, the proposed pipeline to Ecuador would require at least 12,00 km (800 miles) of pipeline to be constructed over mountains and sensitive rain forests in an area of high seismic activity creating an elevated risk of oil spills.
On top of environmental issues, there is the added danger of Marxist insurrection targeting the pipeline as part of its guerrilla campaign.
Other projects planned by the Union are the construction of an inter-oceanic highway that would connect Brazil and Peru and a trans-continental oil pipeline that would connect Venezuela with the nations of the southern cone.
Both projects would necessarily cross the Amazon and open up new settlements in the interior causing increased deforestation and the loss of animal habitat in areas where this is already a problem.
Deforestation is principally caused by the clearing of land for sugar cane, livestock, and soy production.
Damage to human communities is another area of potential risk discussed at the conference.
The Amazon is home to an unknown number of indigenous groups who have never had contact with the world outside the rainforest.
Historically, contact with these groups causes death from new diseases and a degradation of their culture and land.
Government ecologist in Peru reported the spotting of one of these groups during a fly-over of four natural forest reserves around Sepuhua on the Rio de las Piedras last month.
According to The Economist, the area is being deforested by loggers seeking the rich mahogany trees found there for export abroad.
Deadly conflicts have already erupted between the loggers and local tribes over the harvesting of mahogany trees.
While most mahogany is protected, there is a small area that lies just outside of the four natural reserves that makes it possible for loggers to cut some trees legally.
However, because there is little enforcement of the ban, the trees within the forest reserves are being cut as well.
The issues raised by scientists at the conference and by the events of this week are not new to politicians; they reflect the ongoing national and regional debates.
However, conferences like this help maintain the public's awareness of relevant issues and keep politicians informed of potential costs and benefits of proposed projects.
Tim Killeen, a senior scientist at Conservation International, presented a paper at the meeting entitled "A Perfect Storm in the Amazon Wilderness: Development and Conservation in the Context of IIRSA.
" According to Killeen, "Failure to foresee the full impact of IIRSA investments, particularly in the context of climate change and global markets, could lead to a perfect storm of environmental destruction.
At stake are the greatest tropical wilderness area on the planet and the multiple benefits it provides.
" His concerns were highlighted this week when Presidents Uribe and Chavez, of Colombia and Venezuela respectively, invited Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa to witness the opening of the new Ballenas-Maracaibo oil pipeline between their two countries.
The invitation included the possibility of negotiating an extension of the pipeline south into Ecuador.
While not inherently bad news, the proposed pipeline to Ecuador would require at least 12,00 km (800 miles) of pipeline to be constructed over mountains and sensitive rain forests in an area of high seismic activity creating an elevated risk of oil spills.
On top of environmental issues, there is the added danger of Marxist insurrection targeting the pipeline as part of its guerrilla campaign.
Other projects planned by the Union are the construction of an inter-oceanic highway that would connect Brazil and Peru and a trans-continental oil pipeline that would connect Venezuela with the nations of the southern cone.
Both projects would necessarily cross the Amazon and open up new settlements in the interior causing increased deforestation and the loss of animal habitat in areas where this is already a problem.
Deforestation is principally caused by the clearing of land for sugar cane, livestock, and soy production.
Damage to human communities is another area of potential risk discussed at the conference.
The Amazon is home to an unknown number of indigenous groups who have never had contact with the world outside the rainforest.
Historically, contact with these groups causes death from new diseases and a degradation of their culture and land.
Government ecologist in Peru reported the spotting of one of these groups during a fly-over of four natural forest reserves around Sepuhua on the Rio de las Piedras last month.
According to The Economist, the area is being deforested by loggers seeking the rich mahogany trees found there for export abroad.
Deadly conflicts have already erupted between the loggers and local tribes over the harvesting of mahogany trees.
While most mahogany is protected, there is a small area that lies just outside of the four natural reserves that makes it possible for loggers to cut some trees legally.
However, because there is little enforcement of the ban, the trees within the forest reserves are being cut as well.
The issues raised by scientists at the conference and by the events of this week are not new to politicians; they reflect the ongoing national and regional debates.
However, conferences like this help maintain the public's awareness of relevant issues and keep politicians informed of potential costs and benefits of proposed projects.
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