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A Framework for Smart Road Planning
Proposals for new infrastructure in developing countries are typically muted on its environmental impacts, while environmentalists typically say little about its potential benefits for people. This study explores a more conciliatory approach by trying to identify where beneficial infrastructure might be expanded at least environmental cost. Focusing on the Greater Mekong Subregion of Southeast Asia, Balmford et al intersected agricultural, social and environmental maps to identify areas where new roads could help deliver growth in food production at least environmental cost. The image shows a newly established highway serving to overcome mountain barriers in the upper Mekong.
Image Credit: Jianchu Xu and Biaoyun Huai
Citation: (2016) PLoS Biology Issue Image | Vol. 14(12) December 2016. PLoS Biol 14(12): ev14.i12. https://doi.org/10.1371/image.pbio.v14.i12
Published: December 30, 2016
Copyright: © 2016 Xu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Proposals for new infrastructure in developing countries are typically muted on its environmental impacts, while environmentalists typically say little about its potential benefits for people. This study explores a more conciliatory approach by trying to identify where beneficial infrastructure might be expanded at least environmental cost. Focusing on the Greater Mekong Subregion of Southeast Asia, Balmford et al intersected agricultural, social and environmental maps to identify areas where new roads could help deliver growth in food production at least environmental cost. The image shows a newly established highway serving to overcome mountain barriers in the upper Mekong.
Image Credit: Jianchu Xu Biaoyun Huai