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Trans-Amazonian Railway

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Trans-Amazonian Railway
Overview
Other name(s)EF-354
Twin Ocean Railroad[1]
Native nameFerrovia Transoceânica
StatusUnder Planning
LocaleSouth America
Termini
Service
TypeTranscontinental railroad
Technical
Track length5,600 km (3,500 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The Trans-Amazonian Railway is a proposed transcontinental railway through the Amazon Basin in Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru. The project was conceived in 2013 and announced in 2015 by Chinese and Bolivian leaders as part of a larger plan to create a Chinese-funded transportation network to support Bolivian imports and exports.[2] The 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge transcontinental railroad megaproject proposed to link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by cutting through the Amazon rainforest.[3] It was estimated to cost $10 billion circa 2015[4] and $72 billion circa 2023,[5] and may not be able to recoup costs.[6] Its sister projects include the Nicaragua Canal and a Colombian railway. It was included in the Brazilian National Transportation Plan.[7]

The project received backlash from various native tribes, conservationists, ecologists, and news media concerned with the integrity of the Amazon rainforest and negative impact on the lives and well-being of native peoples.[8] Past development projects have endangered native peoples with the introduction of violence from illegal loggers and cattle ranchers.[9][10] There are also concerns that environmental impact has not been properly gauged and communicated to the parties it would effect. An analogous project, the Trans-Amazonian Highway, had a markedly negative impact on native peoples.[citation needed]

Some analysts believe that the railroad is preferential to a trans-continental highway network, as the majority of deforestation happens around roads.[11] The proposed railway would re-use a good portion of already deforested land, reducing impact. [12]

There is a strong incentive to the economy of South America by increasing trade with Asia, and export of beef, soybean, and minerals are expected to boost the economy of several countries along its route.[13] China has encouraged this project both with direct funding and by lifting bans on South American beef imports. As of 2023 China is Brazil's largest beef export market, spending $8 billion on Brazilian beef in 2022.[14] Cattle and beef play a primary role in the deforestation of the Amazon.[15] Cattle ranching is responsible for five times more deforestation in South America than other analyzed commodities, and cattle accounts for 36% of tree cover loss worldwide. [16] Cattle ranching is especially destructive due to the slash-and-burn method ranchers use to clear land, and the feeding habits of cattle being especially thorough and difficult for plants to recover from.[17]

As of 2024, construction has not started yet. The Bolivian state has received assistance from the Inter-American Development Bank and the China Development Bank.[2] The project faces environmental, civil, financial, and legal hurdles.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Li's visit to Latin America draws attention to Twin Ocean Railroad Connection project". People's Daily. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  2. ^ a b "The Trans-Amazonian Rail, China's latest venture in South America". www.midnight-trains.com. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  3. ^ Watts, Jonathan (16 May 2015). "China's Amazonian railway 'threatens uncontacted tribes' and the rainforest". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  4. ^ "China, Brazil, Peru Eye Transcontinental Railway Megaproject". International Business Times. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Brazil–Peru Transcontinental Railway". The People's Map of Global China. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  6. ^ "Final Report Vol. 4 (With Comments from Brazil).pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  7. ^ https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_Ato2007-2010/2008/Lei/L11772.htm
  8. ^ International, Survival. "'Deadly' trans-Amazon railway sparks fear among tribes". www.survivalinternational.org. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  9. ^ "Brazil's military takes on illegal loggers to protect nearly-extinct tribe". Mongabay Environmental News. 2013-07-18. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  10. ^ "'Deadly' trans-Amazon railway sparks fear among rainforest tribes". theecologist.org. 2015-06-16. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  11. ^ Barber, Christopher P.; Cochrane, Mark A.; Souza, Carlos M.; Laurance, William F. (2014-09-01). "Roads, deforestation, and the mitigating effect of protected areas in the Amazon". Biological Conservation. 177: 203–209. Bibcode:2014BCons.177..203B. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2014.07.004. ISSN 0006-3207.
  12. ^ Bicknell, Jake (2015-06-19). "China's Trans-Amazonian railway might be the lesser of two evils". The Conversation. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  13. ^ "Brazil, Peru and China and the Inter-oceanic Dream". 2022-04-05. Archived from the original on 2022-04-05. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  14. ^ "China lifts Brazilian beef import ban ahead of Lula's visit". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  15. ^ West, Thales A. P.; Rausch, Lisa; Munger, Jacob; Gibbs, Holly K. (November 2022). "Protected areas still used to produce Brazil's cattle". Conservation Letters. 15 (6). Bibcode:2022ConL...15E2916W. doi:10.1111/conl.12916. ISSN 1755-263X.
  16. ^ "Deforestation Linked to Agriculture | Global Forest Review". research.wri.org. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  17. ^ "Project Amazonia: Threats - Agriculture and Cattle Ranching". web.mit.edu. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
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