Over the longer term the impact of Hidrovia would be even greater. By reducing transportation costs many activities now economically infeasible would become so. Areas now largely uninhabited would be converted into farmland. This could create even greater environmental problems. The argument over Hidrovia will not end quickly.
Proponents see vast economic opportunities, opponents environmental devastation.
A great deal is riding on the current IADB impact statement. It is unlikely however, that either side will be completely satisfied with the result. The dream of a navigable Paraguay-Parana river system has been around for a long time, it is not likely to disappear anytime soon. The project is considered to have extremely positive' effects for the landlocked Latin American countries, Bolivia and Paraguay, who are now reliant on expensive overland transport. The purpose of the Hidrovia is to ease access to the Atlantic for countries like Paraguay, Bolivia the northern part of Argentina and the western Brazil.