| Abstract |
The Iguacu National Park is a
conservation unit that protects the largest remnant area of the Atlantic
Rainforest in Brazil. The Colono Road is 17.6 km long road crossing the
Iguacu National Park that has been the motive of dispute between
environmentalists, government bodies and NGOs defending the closure of
the Colono Road; and organised civil institutions representing the
population of the surrounding cities defending its opening. In October
2003, 300 people invaded the Park in an attempt to remove the vegetation
and reopen the road, which was prevented by members of the Brazilian
Army and Federal Police. Those who advocate the reopening of the Colono
Road claim significant economic losses imposed on the surrounding cities.
This paper investigates this claim and concludes that a possible
reopening of the Colono Road cannot be justified from an economic
perspective. |
