Medio ambiente en la planificación Latinoamericana

Abstract

The problems arising from the introduction of an environmental dimension in planning the development of Latin America are analised. This makes it necessary to futher elaborate the concepts of development and the environment. Classical and neoclassical economic theories do not give an answer to this problem, but show, as do the views of the Rome Club, that the market is not the instrument to manage environmental aspects of development. Environmental planning has to be done on a long term basis, considering the lack of harmony between the economic perspective of the producer and the ecological perspective of the transformation process. Environmental planning does not try to isolate this dimension in an “environmental sector". Several sectors are involved in all environmental problems, as for example water in public works, health, industry, etc. The "environmental dimension” does not have to be seen only from a negative point of view, without mentioning positive aspects of “artificialization" such as in big water works. We do not have to consider just deterioration but also kind of planning which represents a positive transformation of nature. The aim should be for sector policies to take into consideration the preservation of the environment instead of giving exclusive priority to growth and income, as we have seen in agricultural and industrial planning. At the social level the causes have to be analised in order to propose solutions. For example, it happens that pollution control is the responsibility of public health authorities who may not necessarily be in a position to produce solutions.