Massive 'development corridors' in Africa could spell environmental disaster
Wednesday, November 25, 2015 - 12:00
in Earth & Climate
In sub-Saharan Africa, dozens of major 'development corridors,' including roads, railroads, pipelines, and port facilities, are in the works to increase agricultural production, mineral exports, and economic integration. And, if all goes according to plan, it's going to be a disaster, say researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on Nov. 25. They assessed the potential environmental impacts of 33 planned or existing corridors—spanning 53,000 kilometers—that would crisscross much of the African continent, opening up vast areas of sparsely populated land.