The threat of road expansion in the Peruvian Amazon

Road expansion in the buffer zones of Peru's Manu National Park and Amarakaeri Communal Reserve poses significant threats to biodiversity, indigenous communities, and climate commitments. The proposed infrastructure development risks uncontrolled colonization, deforestation, illegal resource extraction, and social conflict, undermining sustainable development goals. Alternative strategies such as agricultural intensification, improved land-use planning, and less invasive transportation could mitigate these impacts while achieving economic growth and mobility. This study highlights the broader implications of road expansion in tropical regions, offering compromise solutions applicable to other remote areas facing similar challenges.

Gallice, G. R., Larrea-Gallegos, G., & Vázquez-Rowe, I. (2017). The threat of road expansion in the Peruvian Amazon. Oryx, 53(2), 284–292. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605317000412