SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 Finish Latin America Geo Notes Environmental Issues in Latin America HW: FG Environmental Current Event due Friday

Current Event Country Taylor: Brazil Taylor: Cuba Ethan: Ecuador Will: Uruguay Bryce: Peru Mechenzie: Haiti Graham: Guyana Angelina: Mexico Clay: Paraguay Ralph: Puerto Rico Ava: Brazil Morgan: Peru Zeren: Haiti Sophia: Colombia Havana: Venezuela Caden: Nicaragua Mollie: Bolivia Amy: Argentina Christian: Belize Sadie: Brazil Nicole: Guatemala Alex: Dominican Rep. Adam: El Salvador Sean: St. Vincent & Grenadines Eric: Mexico Autumn: Haiti Sylvia: Costa Rica Sabrina: Suriname Edward: Jamaica Dana: Panama Rachel: Honduras Sophie: Chile

Current Event Country Chloe B.: Brazil Caleb: Mexico Brooke: Ecuador Mitchell: Nicaragua Mariana: St. Kitts & Nevis Livi: Honduras Jacob: Haiti Luka: Guyana Ethan: Paraguay Natalyn: Mexico Sebastian: Barbados Maizy: Belize Taylor: Peru Ryan: Panama Cole: Colombia Trent: Suriname Jennifer: Haiti Chloe G: Cuba Nyah: St. Lucia Dot: Brazil Rachel: Costa Rica Madison: Dom. Rep. Arman: Guatemala Nadeia: Chile Matthew: Puerto Rico Seth: Brazil Cobyanne: Bolivia James: Uruguay Javon: Peru Jackson: Venezuela Andrew: Argentina

What causes buildings to collapse in Earthquakes. : https://www What causes buildings to collapse in Earthquakes?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4VQul_S mCg Which countries are prepared for Earthquakes?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2d95XTVUk Q

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN LATIN AMERICA: RAIN FOREST RESOURCES 5

“Rainforests” around the world cover approximately 5% of the earth’s total land mass. Most are found at or near the Earth’s equator in “tropical” climate regions (biomes). Equator 6

The Amazon Rainforest in South America is the world’s largest rainforest. Most of it is located in Brazil. Amazon Rainforest

RAIN FOREST DEFORESTATION However, today nearly 78 million acres of rain forest are destroyed worldwide each year-about half the size of Texas. Global Rates of Rain Forest Deforestation in Perspective: 2.47 acres per second: equivalent to two U.S. football fields 214,000 acres per day: an area larger than New York City At the current rate of deforestation, the world’s rain forests will be gone in 40-45 years! 8

Rainforests: An Important Global Resource Within your group, discuss and write the reasons why should we care about what is happening to the world’s rain forests? Provide at least 3 reasons

Causes of Deforestation Within your group, discuss and write the possible causes of deforestation.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 Deforestation of Amazon and Haiti HW: Current Event due Tomorrow Haiti Article Questions due Tomorrow

Rainforests: An Important Global Resource The world’s rainforests are considered an important global resource for three reasons: 12

Rainforests: An Important Global Resource 1) Its vegetation helps to clean the earth’s atmosphere of excessive Greenhouse gases. * plants absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. Think of the rainforest as an air cleaner 13

The rain forest acts like a thermostat and water facet. Rainforests: An Important Global Resource 2) Helps regulate the earth’s precipitation and temperature. The rain forest acts like a thermostat and water facet. 14

The Amazon and Brazil’s Drought https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rQmG- koEPI

A DIVERSE ECOSYSTEM The world’s rainforests shelter several million species of plants and animal. In fact, 50% of all plant and animal species are found in the world’s rainforests. 16

So in this sense, think of the rainforest as the world’s pharmacy. Rainforests: An Important Global Resource 3) Shelters several million species of plants-many of the ingredients found in modern medicines are found only in plants from the rainforest. So in this sense, think of the rainforest as the world’s pharmacy. 17

Why is this happening? 18

Timelapse Video of Amazon Deforestation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBIA0lqfcN4

Most of the world’s rainforests are located in third-world nations (economically underdeveloped nations). 20

Why would these people do something that appears to be harmful not just to the planet, but also to themselves in the long-term? CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION 21

Causes of Deforestation : 22

1) Land is needed for farming to feed a rapidly growing population. * Remember, most rainforests are found in third-world nations that depend on agricultural production to earn a living. 23

2) Increased global demand for timber products: Governments sell logging concessions to raise money to pay international debts or to develop their economy/ infrastructure. 24

3) Increased global demand for meat products: 25

3) Increased global demand for meat products: Cattle prices dramatically increased thus turning livestock into a valuable export. Rain forest was converted into cattle grazing land 26

Since the world’s rain forests are a global resource, do we and the rest of the world have a say in how the people of Brazil and South America use or manage their natural resources (rain forests)? 28

Finding Solutions- What are we to do? How do we balance “competing interests? The economic needs of developing nations The need to protect a vital global resource 29

FINDING SOLUTIONS TO SAVING LATIN AMERICA’S RAIN FORESTS DEBT-FOR-NATURE-SWAP Private environmental groups help Latin American countries pay off their foreign debt, and Latin American countries agree to protect certain portions of the rain forest from development. Off-limits to development 30

FINDING SOLUTIONS TO SAVING LATIN AMERICA’S RAIN FORESTS 2) Develop “ecotourism” Tourism based on the natural beauty of the environment. This will provide an economic alternative to farming and timber exports as a means of income. 31

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Eco-Tourism 33

Haiti Quick facts: Poorest country in western hemisphere 40% unemployment Ethnic makeup: 95% black (descendants from African slaves) Population: 10 million Former sugar cane colony of France Comprises west third of the island of Hispaniola Located in the Caribbean Sea Prone to earthquakes and hurricanes

Destruction of Haiti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLmpFHSsGD0