Optimizing future road infrastructure for societal benefit and environmental protection in Papua New Guinea

Campbell, Mason, Alamgir, Mohammed, Sloan, Sean, and Laurance, William (2017) Optimizing future road infrastructure for societal benefit and environmental protection in Papua New Guinea. In: [Presented at the PNG Impact Conference]. pp. 65-66. From: PNG Impact Conference: Research Innovation Society, 12-13 Dec 2017, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

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Abstract

We are currently living in the most explosive era of infrastructure expansion in human history. By 2050, it is projected that there will be an additional 25 million kilometers of paved roads on Earth—enough to encircle the planet more than 600 times. Around nine‐tenths of these roads will be built in developing nations and tropical regions, which sustain many of the planet's most biologically diverse and environmentally importantecosystems. Unfortunately, the contemporary avalanche of new infrastructure is having severe impacts on many ecosystems and species. However, not all infrastructure is 'bad' for the environment. In appropriate contexts, new infrastructure can yield sizeable social and economic benefits with only limited environmental costs. For instance, road improvements in already‐settled areas can facilitate increases in agricultural production and improve rural livelihoods, by giving farmers better access to urban markets, fertilizers, and new agricultural technologies. Our team at James Cook University, Cairns are working in conjunction with researchers from the University of Papua New Guinea, the Papua New Guinean government and non‐government organizations to devise and implement spatial land‐use planning tools that will minimize the environmental costs and maximize the socioeconomic benefits of road expansion.

Item ID: 52502
Item Type: Conference Item (Presentation)
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Date Deposited: 01 Mar 2018 02:58
FoR Codes: 12 BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND DESIGN > 1205 Urban and Regional Planning > 120506 Transport Planning @ 50%
05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050205 Environmental Management @ 25%
05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050202 Conservation and Biodiversity @ 25%
SEO Codes: 88 TRANSPORT > 8801 Ground Transport > 880106 Road Infrastructure and Networks @ 50%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960501 Ecosystem Assessment and Management at Regional or Larger Scales @ 25%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960805 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity at Regional or Larger Scales @ 25%
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