Áreas de protección natural : ¿son efectivas ante la presencia de carreteras?
Date
2019-07
Authors
Guerrero, Elmer
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Rossi, Martín A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universidad de San Andrés. Departamento de Economía
Abstract
La creación de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (ANP) ha sido una de las principales medidas de política para proteger y mantener la diversidad natural y biológica, y prevenir la extinción de las especies de flora y fauna. Sin embargo, en los últimos 16 años, la cobertura boscosa en el Perú disminuyó en aproximadamente 2 millones de hectáreas, situación que ha sido exacerbada con el desarrollo de infraestructura de carreteras, al expandirse en 112% durante el mismo periodo.Si bien son comprensibles los beneficios económicos y sociales de la infraestructura vial, especialmente, en países en desarrollo, esta puede tener también efectos negativos, tales como la deforestación. En esta investigación, utilizando una aproximación de triple diferencias, se estudia la efectividad de las ANP para prevenir la deforestación en presencia de infraestructura de carreteras.El principal resultado obtenido sugiere que la expansión de la red de carreteras incrementó la deforestación en la Amazonía peruana. No obstante, el aumento de las áreas protegidas ha neutralizado parcialmente tal efecto. En promedio, la cobertura boscosa se reduce en alrededor de 5 km por 400 km2 cuando existen vías dentro de una distancia de 10 km, pero la creación simultánea de áreas naturales protegidas ha contrarrestado la deforestación con una reducción de la misma de aproximadamente 3.9 km2 por 400 km2. En otras palabras, aun cuando el efecto “deforestación” de las carreteras prevalece, las áreas protegidas cumplen parcialmente su rol.
The creation of Natural Protected Areas (ANP) has been one of the main policies implemented to protect and preserve natural and biological diversity, and to prevent the extinction of flora and fauna. Notwithstanding, in the last 16 years, forest cover in Peru decreased by approximately 2 million hectares. This situation has been exacerbated by the development of road infrastructure, which expanded by 112% during the same period.While the economic and social benefits of road infrastructure are widely known, especially in developing countries, it can also have negative effects, one of these negative effects is deforestation. In this research, using a triple difference approach, I provide evidence of the effectiveness of the ANP to prevent deforestation in the presence of road infrastructure.The main result obtained suggests that the expansion of the road network increased deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon. However, the increase in protected areas has partially neutralized this effect. On average, the forest cover is reduced by around 5 km per 400 km2 when there are roads within a distance of 10 km, but the simultaneous creation of protected natural areas has counteracted deforestation with a reduction of about 3.9 km2 per 400 km2. In other words, even when the “deforestation” effect of the roads prevails, the protected areas partially fulfill their role.
The creation of Natural Protected Areas (ANP) has been one of the main policies implemented to protect and preserve natural and biological diversity, and to prevent the extinction of flora and fauna. Notwithstanding, in the last 16 years, forest cover in Peru decreased by approximately 2 million hectares. This situation has been exacerbated by the development of road infrastructure, which expanded by 112% during the same period.While the economic and social benefits of road infrastructure are widely known, especially in developing countries, it can also have negative effects, one of these negative effects is deforestation. In this research, using a triple difference approach, I provide evidence of the effectiveness of the ANP to prevent deforestation in the presence of road infrastructure.The main result obtained suggests that the expansion of the road network increased deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon. However, the increase in protected areas has partially neutralized this effect. On average, the forest cover is reduced by around 5 km per 400 km2 when there are roads within a distance of 10 km, but the simultaneous creation of protected natural areas has counteracted deforestation with a reduction of about 3.9 km2 per 400 km2. In other words, even when the “deforestation” effect of the roads prevails, the protected areas partially fulfill their role.
Description
Fil: Guerrero, Elmer. Universidad de San Andrés. Departamento de Economía; Argentina.