1. CHANGING URBAN ENVIRONMENTS
AQA Specification A
GCSE HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
CHANGING URBAN ENVIRONMENTS
Unit 2A
Urbanisation in LEDCs

2. Squatter Settlements
In poorer parts of the world rapid urbanisation is resulting in many problems.

3. As migrants move from the countryside into the rapidly expanding towns and cities they often have little or no money and nowhere to live.
The only option for these people is to build whatever shelter they can using any materials they might have available to them. These shacks or houses are often built illegally on land on the outskirts of the city.
Such temporary or ‘squatter’ settlements are also known as shanty towns. In South America they are called barrios or favelas, and in India they are known as bustees.

4. In the larger cities in poor, less well developed countries there is a huge difference in living standards between those that have wealth and those that do not
Panama City
Borneo

5. Reasons for Rapid Urbanisation in Poorer Parts of the World
According to the United Nations 50% of the world’s population currently live in urban areas and these areas cover around 3% of the Earth's land area.
90% of future population growth is expected to be in urban areas and a large percentage of this growth will be in the poorer parts of Africa and Asia.
This rapid urbanisation results from:
natural population increase
rural to urban migration
improved medical care
better sanitation
improved food supplies
1800
2000
2030 5%
47%
65%

6. Rio de Janeiro is the second biggest city in Brazil with a population of approximately 11.7 million people. The population has grown for a number of reasons.
There has been a natural increase because the birth rate is higher than the death rate.
The population has also grown as the result of urbanisation as people migrate from the countryside to the city.
This migration has seen millions of people move to Rio de Janeiro resulting in 65% of the urban growth. This is caused by a variety of push and pull factors.

7. Characteristics of Squatter Settlements
The houses are often built in dangerous places such as on steep hillsides or close to rivers.
Houses are made from scrap materials such as wood, plastic and metal sheeting.
Often houses do not have even basic services such as sanitation, water or electricity.
The settlements are usually very overcrowded with illness and crime affecting the population.
Often these illegal settlements are torn down by the authorities.

8. One of the many favelas in Rio de Janeiro

9. Some Facts about Rocinha
There are approximately 1,000 favelas in Rio de Janeiro.
According to the official 2010 census, over 69,000 people live in Rocinha, South America's biggest favela.
The actual number of inhabitants of Rocinha is more like 150,000.
20% of the six million people in the city's metropolitan region live in favelas.
37 murders per 100,000 people happen in Rio per year compared to 1.9 per 100,000 in London.
Three times more people are killed per year by police in Rio than in the entire United States of America.
Police Pacification Units (UPPs) have been set up in 18 favelas to drive out crime.
It is hoped to increase this number to 40 by 2014.

10. Life in a typical favela

11. Rio de Janeiro is one of the world’s mega-cities and hosted some of the soccer World Cup in 2014 and will host the Olympics this year.
Because of these events Brazil decided it had to clean up the favelas of Rio de Janeiro.
In 2008 a ‘Favela Pacification Programme’ began in an attempt to regain control of the favelas. These settlements are controlled by the armed mafias or gangs who recruit unemployed youths and fund themselves by drug trafficking, extortion and kidnapping. These groups even corrupt and penetrate the government institutions such as the security forces, the judicial system, local and sometimes national government.

12. Case Study
The following slides show information about two squatter settlements which have been built on the edge of Nairobi, a city in a developing country called Kenya.
Although such squatter settlements are usually thought of as temporary, in many instances they become semi-permanent or even permanent.
Over a period of time, usually with help from both governmental and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) some level of development takes place.
The information in the following slides shows evidence of the level of development in each of the settlements.

13. There are two squatter settlements which have been built on land on the outskirts of this city. Settlement A has only been there for one year while settlement B was built 25 years ago.

14. Photograph 1 Squatter settlement A
Photograph 2 Squatter settlement B
Some data about each of the squatter settlements is shown on the next slide.
Map 2 Squatter settlement A

15. The table shows you information about squatter settlements A and B.
Study the data carefully and look at the photographs and maps on the previous two slides which show you the location of each settlement in relation to the city and what each settlement looks like.
In groups discuss the information you have seen and then have a go at answering the question below.
Describe each of the settlements in detail and outline the main differences and similarities between the two.

16. Self-Help Schemes
In Sao Paulo, Brazil the authorities would like to remove all of the shanty towns but this would cost a lot of money as they would still have to provide alternative housing for all of the residents. As a result the city authority has set up a self-help scheme.
This involves the city authority giving the residents of the shanty town a small loan and help with cheap building materials while the residents provide the labour and do the building themselves.
Local authorities then provide basic services such as a clean water supply, sewerage systems and electricity.

17. As a Result
Many wooden buildings or those on dangerously steep slopes have been replaced.
Proper, solid roads and pavements have been constructed.
Pipes for water and cables for electricity have been installed.
A proper system of sewers has been built to improve sanitation.
New clinics, schools and sports areas have been built.
Also, in an attempt to reduce the population of the shanty towns, residents are being encouraged to move to new satellite cites like Berrini and Jardines on the outskirts of Sao Paulo where factories have been built so that local jobs will be available.

18. Improvements have been made to life in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro
These improvements will help the communities in many ways by helping to reduce crime, improve health and provide a much better standard of living.

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