Potential Forest Loss and Biodiversity Risks from Road Improvement in Lao PDR

Danyo, Stephen ; Dasgupta, Susmita ; Wheeler, David

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: DEFORESTATION;    BIODIVERSITY;    ROAD CONSTRUCTION;    INFRASTRUCTURE;    GREEN GROWTH;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-8569
RP-ID  :  WPS8569

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

This paper develops and applies aspatial econometric model that links road upgrading toforest clearing and biodiversity loss in the LaoPeople's Democratic Republic.The paper uses 500-metercells to estimate the relationship between the rate offorest clearing in a cell and its distance to the closestpoint on the nearest road link, the quality of that link,the cell's legal protection status, transport cost tothe nearest urban center, the agricultural opportunity valueof the land, and terrain elevation. The parameter estimatesare all robust, with the expected signs and very highstatistical significance. The paper highlights the resultsthat measure the impact of improved road quality on forestclearing through shorter transport times to market and lowervehicle maintenance costs. The estimated response parametersand a composite biodiversity indicator are used to computean index of expected biodiversity loss from road upgradingin each 500meter cell. The results identify areas in the LaoPeople’s Democratic Republic where high expectedbiodiversity loss may warrant additional protection as roadupgrading continues. This analysis will help policy makersin the country to weigh context-specific trade-offs betweendevelopment and conservation objectives associated with road improvement.