Roads to ruin

[Extract] CAIRNS, Australia — If you want to see how differently economists and ecologists view the world, just ask them about roads. Many economists love roads; they see them as one of the most cost-effective ways to encourage economic growth and provide social benefits. But roads truly scare ecologists — especially roads that penetrate into wilderness areas, nature reserves, and the remnants of rare ecosystems. Why? In such circumstances, roads often open a Pandora's box of environmental evils