Interoceanic Highway

 

The InterOceanic Highway was constructed over the last decade and stretches from Eastern Brazil to Western Peru. In it’s construction, the highway created a route of commerce across the South American continent from Atlantic to Pacific, but with this increase in commerce, comes a plethora of both direct and indirect effects.   

The InterOceanic Highway bisects South America. Google Maps Image

The construction of the highway caused direct impact on the environment, cutting into the Amazon rainforest and other habitats that support the biodiverse ecologies of South America. The construction through these areas caused severe habitat fragmentation and edge effects, which is correlated with decreased biodiversity (Asner et al., 2010, Cumming et al, 2012). Around the highway, there is a roughly 50km buffer zone, where edge effects have been observed (ICIJ). Roads bisect landscapes and make it increasingly difficult for species migration and distribution. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) investigated the socioeconomic and other implications of the highway construction.

The Interoceanic Highway navigating through a landscape in South America. Photo Credit: Rob Curran

Easier access to previously isolated environments has led to increased exploitation. While this expansion is directly responsible for loss in biodiversity, the anthropogenic access it’s allowed has had unforeseen effects too, like an increase in mercury surrounding the highway due to illegal gold mining (ICIJ). Locals and immigrants alike are pursuing illegal mining and logging, too, as a means for survival. These illegal activities are enabled, as inadequate governments are unable to enforce prevention of these legal violations to prevent environmental destruction beyond the construction of the highway.

A young Peruvian woman takes advantage of increased passers-by, selling local fruit highway-side to support her family. Image by Connectas.

Populations of highway-proximate peoples have expanded too, as many people are migrating to this newly habitable area in hopes of making a living. The infrastructure of previously small towns is being highly stressed, and the sudden influx of people has brought new social issues to the forefront, including increases in organized crime, prostitution, and spread of sexually transmitted infections (The Camino VerdeOrganization).
The InterOceanic Highway was constructed in order to facilitate distribution of goods from Brazil’s booming economy to Asia and the Pacific, though at the expense of local peoples and ecosystems across South America (ICIJ). The project provides an example of what is seemingly the paradox of “sustainable” development in Latin America. There was a great deal of public opposition to the highway’s expansion, as many feared the consequences of such a mammoth project, but the powerful and rich Brazilian government dominated opposition and pushed highway construction (Carbon Trade Watch). This industrial expansion isn’t as successful as projected in terms of enabling exports, and due to local socioeconomic factors, severe environmental exploitation and social harm has ensued (ICIJ).