Resource Directory

This research analysed peer reviewed literature on development corridors, in response to three key questions:(i) how impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services are assessed; (ii) what mitigation measures are discussed to manage these impacts; and (iii) to what extent do these measures approximate to best practice. Conclusive evidence suggests from this analysis that academic literature on development corridors does not give sufficient consideration to comprehensive mitigation of biodiversity impacts. To change this, impact assessment research needs to acknowledge the complexity of such multi-project and multi-stakeholder initiatives, quantify biodiversity losses due to the full suite of their potential direct, indirect and cumulative impacts, and follow all the steps of the mitigation hierarchy impact framework.

Key findings and lessons learned from across the research and capacity building initiatives of the Development Corridors Partnership

This policy brief identifies a critical need to decouple economic growth from the extraction and use of natural resources. Infrastructure development is particularly resource intensive, and contributes heavily to the global material footprint. Increasing the resource efficiency of infrastructure can be a major driver of the transition to sustainable development. It is now vital that policymakers and planners recognize the interlinkages between natural resources, material resource use, and the diverse and complex systems of infrastructure that are required to support economic and human development.

The large-scale expansion of built infrastructure is profoundly reshaping the geographies of Africa, generating lock-in patterns of development for future generations. Understanding the impact of these massive investments can allow development opportunities to be maximised and therefore be critical for attaining the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and African Union’s Agenda 2063 aims. However, until now information on the types, scope, and timing of investments, their evolution and spatial-temporal impact was dispersed amongst various agencies. We developed a database of 79 development corridors across Africa, synthesizing data from multiple sources covering 184 projects on railways, wet and dry ports, pipelines, airports, techno-cities, and industrial parks. The georeferenced interlinked tabular and spatial database includes 22 attributes. We expect this database will improve coordination, efficiency, monitoring, oversight, strategic planning, transparency, and risk assessments, among other uses for investment banks, governments, impact assessment practitioners, communities, conservationists, economists, and regional economic bodies.

This research provides critical analysis of development corridors as a mechanism for delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Results emphasise the need for more integrated corridor governance if the SDGs are to be achieved efficiently, and as a whole, suggest ways to enhance policy coherence in corridors, across often siloed sectors.

This article provides explicit means to build measurable goals that specify the outcomes we want to achieve under the new global biodiversity framework (GBF) being developed under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Distinct outcome goals for species, ecosystems, and genetic diversity are argued to be essential and should specify net outcomes required for each. The outline of seven general principles to underpin net outcome goal setting that minimize risk of such perverse outcomes are provided. Further recommendations for inclusion of statements of impact in action targets that support biodiversity goals are included, the importance of which is illustrated through an example from the draft GBF action targets.

The DCP, through its Kenyan partners the African Conservation Centre (ACC) and the Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation (ICCA) – University of Nairobi, conducted a series of webinars led by the researchers within the partnership, who shared their insights from ongoing work. In this session, Dr. Jessica Thorn (Postdoctoral Researcher, University of York, UK) speaks about 'future scenarios of infrastructure-driven land use and social-ecological transformations'. She explores how investments in Africa's infrastructure are occurring very rapidly, and presents scenario planning as a tool that can consider present and past drivers, to forecast future challenges and get ahead of the problem before it arises.

The DCP, through its Kenyan partners the African Conservation Centre (ACC) and the Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation (ICCA) – University of Nairobi, conducted a series of webinars led by the researchers within the partnership, who shared their insights from ongoing work. In this session, Dr Catherine Sang and panel discuss the incorporation of effective social and environmental safeguards, based on examples from the SGR infrastructure development, that ensure sustainable outcomes. Specifically, they address water security issues and implications in the SGR corridor of Kenya.

This research uses the case study of Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to illustrate the environmental ramifications that need to be considered and addressed in the construction and operation of linear infrastructure projects. The evidence shows tangible increases in soil erosion, land degradation, flooding, sedimentation of water bodies, habitat destruction, and other environmental impacts of the SGR construction. Further challenges within Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) processes are highlighted, including potential lack of meaningful public participation and little oversight both in the ESIA process and implementation of the development projects.

The DCP, through its Kenyan partners the African Conservation Centre (ACC) and the Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation (ICCA) – University of Nairobi, conducted a series of webinars led by the researchers within the partnership, who shared their insights from ongoing work. In this session, Dr. Gediminas Lesutis (Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Cambridge, UK) speaks about the 'uneven social effects of mega-infrastructures in Kenya'.