Initiative for the Integration of the Regional Infrastructure of South America

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The Initiative for the Integration of the Regional Infrastructure of South America (IIRSA) is a development plan to link

transportation, energy, and telecommunications
projects.

IIRSA investments are expected to integrate highway networks, river ways, hydroelectric dams and telecommunications links throughout the continent—particularly in remote, isolated regions—to allow greater trade and create a South American community of nations.

The initiative was launched in late 2000 with the participation of the 12 countries of South America which form the

FONPLATA). Together the three institutions form the Technical Coordination Committee (CCT) which provides technical and financial support for IIRSA activities.[1]

Region

The project is subdivided in several regions, called hubs.

Amazon Hub

Andean Hub

Southern Andean Hub

Capricorn Hub

Central Interoceanic Hub

Guianese Shield Hub

Within the Guianese Shield Hub, 4 groups of projects have been identified.[2][3]

Group 1: Interconnection Venezuela-Brazil

The anchor project within the first group is the rehabilitation of the Caracas-Manaus road.[2]

Group 2: Interconnection Guyana-Brazil

The anchor project within the second group is the improvement of Boa Vista-Bonfim-Lethem-Georgetown road.[4] The construction of the Takutu River Bridge between Guyana and Brazil on this road was a separate project within IIRSA,[5] as is the construction of a deep water port in northern Guyana and a hydropower plant in Amaila, among others.[2]

Group 3: Interconnection Venezuela-Guyana-Suriname

The anchor project within the third group is the improvement and construction of the

Corentyne River (Guyana-Suriname) are also projects within group 3. The section within Suriname of this route is part of the Southern East-West Link
.

Group 4: Interconnection Guyana-Suriname-French Guiana-Brazil

The anchor project in the fourth group is the improvement of the Georgetown-

Oyapock River and the improvement of the road between Oiapoque and Macapá are also part of this group. It has been suggested that French Guiana, which is not part of the IIRSA project, be included in this respect as an observing partner.[2]

MERCOSUR-Chile Hub

Paraguay-Parana Waterway Hub

Peru-Brazil-Bolivia Hub

Southern Hub

Criticism

According to

destruction of the Amazon rainforest
and have profound and far-reaching consequences.

The study shows that cutting and burning of the forests could seriously imperil the multibillion-dollar agriculture industry of the

Rio Plata basin, as well as destroy the ecosystems that are home to indigenous people. According to the study, the IIRSA would also wipe out some of Earth's richest storehouses of terrestrial and freshwater life and would negatively affect climate change by releasing into the atmosphere the huge quantities of carbon dioxide
stored in the biomass of the tropical forest—estimated at twenty times the world's total annual greenhouse gas emissions.

According to Killeen, the IIRSA does not have to be destructive: "A visionary initiative such as IIRSA should be visionary in all of its dimensions, and should incorporate measures to ensure that the region’s renewable natural resources are conserved and its traditional communities strengthened."[9]

References

  1. ^ CAF Archived 2007-10-23 at the Wayback Machine accessed on October 13, 2007
  2. ^ a b c d IIRSA.org - Guyana Shield Hub presentation Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ IIRSA.org - Project report on the Guianese Shield Hub
  4. ^ IIRSA.org - Boa Vista-Bonfim-Lethem-Georgetown Road (1st Stage: Studies)
  5. ^ IIRSA.org - Bridge over Río Takutu Archived 2012-02-23 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ IIRSA.org - Venezuela (Ciudad Guayana)-Guiana (Georgetown)-Suriname (Paramaribo) Road (1st Stage) Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ IIRSA.org - Improvement in Nieuw Nickerie-Paramaribo-Albina Road and International Crossing over Río Marowijne Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "A Perfect Storm in the Amazon Wilderness" (2007)
  9. ^ Amazon Rainforest at risk from initiative to connect South American economies

Seel also

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