E/CN.4/1997/71/Add.1 page 15 international economic interests are seeking improved access to the sea in order to trade with the Far East. This is bringing heavy pressure to bear on the Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities whom these interests would like to drive out in order to develop heavy infrastructure. 54. A large number of development projects (hydro-electric dams, roads, ports, tourist villages, plantations, etc.) have been, or will be, responsible for the expropriation, expulsion and dismembering of the communities. The construction of the Pan-American Highway, stretching from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, threatens the existence of the Embera and Tule populations where it passes through northern Colombia. Similarly, the construction of the interoceanic canal known as the Atrato-Truandó canal (after the names of the rivers that will flood the canal) heralds an economic and social upheaval for the Chocó region; the Afro-Colombians and Amerindians are fearful of these developments, especially since they have not been involved in these projects and are unlikely to benefit from them. 55. In Nariño department, the construction by a logging firm of the Naranjo canal in the Patia river basin, which has altered the hydrological balance of the watercourses, has had tragic ecological consequences for the region's populations: during periods of flooding, the waters of the Patia river and its tributaries inundate the surrounding settlements, forcing the populations to move. 21 56. To the north of Cartagena and on its outskirts, and in the area of Boquilla, the inhabitants of the Barú, Tierra Bomba and El Rosario islands have been expelled by the local authorities under pressure from powerful hotel chains, so as to enable tourist complexes to be built. 57. The indigenous populations living in the Colombian Amazon region are also worried about efforts made by certain international companies to appropriate the genomes of medicinal plants such as the yagé, albahaca and ortiga, over which they claim intellectual property rights. D. Administrative obstacles and inertia 58. Of the 600,000 hectares which the Government plans to assign collectively to the Afro-Colombian populations, not one hectare has so far been received by them because of the opposition of powerful economic and financial interests and legislative inconsistencies. 59. The indigenous populations consider that their need for land is being satisfied too slowly. “According to data from the Colombian National Indigenous Organization (ONIC), a total of 1,196,316 hectares are needed in order to establish resguardos ; 54,947 hectares are needed for sanitation and 153,898 hectares to expand resguardos . Where uncultivated land is concerned, a total of 4,493,637 hectares are needed to establish resguardos and 22 132,867 hectares to enlarge them”. 60. However, INCORA, the governmental body responsible for agrarian reform, is purchasing only 20,000 hectares a year. At this rate, it will take “70 years” 23 to satisfy the populations' expectations.