13 / 23
Page 62
conferenceseries
.com
Volume 8
Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography
Biodiversity Congress 2018
July 26-27, 2018
July 26-27, 2018 Melbourne, Australia
7
th
International Conference on
Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Management
Alternatives to the cross river superhighway balances sustainable infrastructure development with
biodiversity conservation
Mahmoud Ibrahim Mahmoud
James Cook University, Australia
Statement of the Problem:
Roads infrastructure development is necessary but can be problematic when poorly planned.
Spatial scientists can provide evidenced-based reasoning in realizing viable and smart road infrastructure provisioning to
optimize nature conservation, minimize environmental damages and maximize socioeconomic benefits.
Methodology &Theoretical Orientation:
Based on integrated spatially explicit impacts assessment and cost-benefit analysis,
the African case study presented in this study show how re-routing poorly planned highways can reduce negative environmental
impacts, conserve biodiversity provide innovative and flexible ecosystem management solutions. Examining the proposed 260
km superhighway in Cross River State, south-eastern Nigeria illustrates how human actions threaten frontiers of biodiversity
and wildlife conservation in equatorial Africa.
Findings:
The examined proposed highway by the Cross River State Government in Nigeria would have intersected ~115 km of
intact tropical rainforest or protected areas and would cost ~US$2.5 billion to construct. The two alternative routes 1 and 2 we
offered and evaluated would be less damaging to the Cross River National Park, unprotected forests and biodiversity habitats.
Although, the alternative routes are slightly longer (~290 and ~353 km), yet costing less (~ US$0.9 billion) to construct,
compared to the state government proposed superhighway. The first alternative suggested, entirely avoids intact forest while
aiming to provide maximum benefits to farmers and settlers.
Conclusion & Significance:
In the context of achieving target #9 of the global sustainable development goals, smart
infrastructure provisioning and sustainable land-use management suggestions from research outcomes should be incorporated
as strategic tools for developing an informed conservation economy policy and decision-making in Africa. If biodiversity
conservation and ecosystemmanagement are to be achieved Africa wide, road infrastructure developments must be optimized
to reduce environmental impacts and maximize socioeconomic benefits which can be realized by promoting lessons, trade-offs
and synergies learnt from the cross river superhighway case study.
mahmoud.mahmoud@jcu.edu.auJ Ecosyst Ecogr 2018, Volume 8
DOI: 10.4172/2157-7625-C4-042