Logistics of Natural Resources

This toolkit has been developed as part of the United Nations Development Account project "Logistics integration for a more sustainable exploitation of natural resources in Latin America and the Caribbean"

In Latin America and the Caribbean logistics and infrastructure services play a vital role in the provision of basic services as well as improving trade competitiveness and strengthening sustainable regional value chains. In this regard, until presently the region faces significant limitations in providing infrastructure and logistics services reflected in high logistics costs and increasing negative externalities, both social and environmental, which hamper regional and national growth. As the spatial distribution of the continent highlights, the logistics infrastructure is organized to connect natural resources deposits with nearby ports through infrastructure originally designed for said purpose. Therefore, the challenge remains to adapt this infrastructure to current development goals within the region, adding further value to the region's exports and increasing trade competitiveness and environmental efficiency towards achieving a more diversified and sustainable use of natural resources. Acknowledging the essential link between logistics and natural resources in the region, allows for the development of sound national and regional public policies that allow to further improve connectivity and fill in missing territorial gaps and interdepedent sectors and industries. The present toolkit has been designed aiming to aid in such task and, understanding this tool as an ongoing process, welcomes comments and further improvement of the maps. (Read more)