부산대학교 도서관

It is obvious that roads facilitate access to natural resources. It is less clear, however, why the “spatial structure” of road networks varies among locations in tropical forest frontiers, which bears implications for the “spatial geometry” of forest fragmentation and the sustainability of resource-based development. We present a comparative analysis of the processes behind distinct road network structures and forest fragmentation geometries in two sites of the Brazilian Amazon. Contrasts in the two case histories occurred due to biophysical environments, planning and initial settlement, and subsequent change dynamics. These divergences provide the basis for an explanation of distinct road network structures and fragmentation patterns, with implications for tropical forest conservation and sustainable frontier development via policies and grassroots initiatives for effective “road governance”.