Ecobreves – PERU: Critics Target Inter-Ocean Highway

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LIMA, Jul 25 2005 (IPS) - The construction of a highway that would connect Brazil's Atlantic coast with Peru's Pacific shores is coming under fire for its cost and environmental impacts. The Peruvian government promised Brazil it would invest 1.5 billion dollars in building a 1,100-km highway to connect Brazil's road network to the Peruvian ports of Marcona, Matarani and Ilo.

But critics say it would hurt a 400-km stretch of Peru's tropical forests.

“This superhighway would benefit Brazil, but would do very little for our country, which would not only pay for its construction, but also for its serious environmental and social costs,” said Peruvian Marc Dourojeanni, regional environmental advisor for the Inter-American Development Bank.

“As already occurred in Brazil, the highway would promote unregulated exploitation, deforestation and degradation of the forest, and would promote the exploitation and expulsion of indigenous communities,” he added.