1. The Human Geography of Latin America
Ch. 11
The Human Geography of Latin America

2. VI. Today’s Issues A. Preservation of the Rain Forest
B. Struggle for Democracy
C. The Income Gap
VI. Today’s Issues

3. Why is the rain forest important?
1. Global resource with much biodiversity
Helps to clean the earth’s atmosphere
Regulates the climate
Biodiversity - Home for millions of species of plants, insects and wildlife

4. Why are rainforests being destroyed?
2. Deforestation - the cutting down and clearing away of trees Humans are cutting down rainforests for many reasons, including: a. lumber b. agriculture c. grazing land for cattle d. road construction e. homes for poor native people f. homes for an increasing population

5. LOGGING
Many types of wood used for furniture, flooring, and construction are harvested from tropical forests
Local people often rely on harvesting wood for rainforests for fire wood and building materials.
In the past such practices were not particularly damaging to the ecosystem.
However, in areas with large human populations, the number of people collecting wood from an area rainforest can be very damaging

6. AGRICULTURE
The two main groups responsible for converting rainforest into farmland are poor farmers and corporations
Poor farmers in many parts of the world rely on clearing rainforest to feed their families. Without access to better agricultural lands, these people use slash-and-burn to clear patches of forest for short-tern periods of time
Some experts believe that South America will someday have an area of farmland that rivals that of the American Midwest

7. CATTLE
Clearing for cattle pasture is the leading cause of deforestation in the Amazon.
Brazil now produces more beef than ever before.
Besides raising cattle for food, many landowners use cattle to expand their land.
By simply placing cattle on an area of forest land, landowners can gain ownership rights to that land.

8. ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Road and highway construction in the rainforest opens up large areas for development.
In Brazil, the Trans-Amazonian highway resulted in the destruction of huge areas of forest by poor colonists, loggers, and land speculators.

9. POVERTY
The world's rainforests are found in the poorest areas on the planet.
The people who live in and around rainforests rely on these ecosystems for their survival.
They collect fruit and wood, hunt wildlife to put meat on the table, and are paid by companies that extract resources from forest lands.

10. INCREASING POPULATION
More than half of the Amazon rain forest is located in Brazil.
The country’s growing population is contributing to the rain forest’s decline.
The estimated population of Brazil in 2000 was about 173 million.
It is expected to reach 200 million by 2020.

12. Plants and Animals in Danger
The rain forest takes up only about 6% of earth’s surface, but is home for about 50% of the world’s plant and animal species.
Plants found in the rain forests have been used to make medicines that heal and cure diseases.
In the Amazon, 50-80% of moisture remains in the ecosystem's water cycle. When the forests are cut down, less moisture is goes into the atmosphere and rainfall declines and sometimes leads to drought.

13. Saving the Rain Forests by remembering “TREES”
Teach others about the importance of the environment and how they can help save rainforests.
Restore by planting trees on land where forests have been cut down.
Encourage people to live in a way that doesn't hurt the environment
Establish parks to protect rainforests and wildlife
Support companies that operate in ways that minimize damage to the environment

14. A Juggling Act
The government feels pressure to develop and use the resources of the rain forest to help narrow the income gap in Latin America.
How do you balance economic growth with preservation of the rain forest?

15. Debt-for-Nature-Swap
A plan to pay governments for preserving the rain forests.
The environmental organizations agree to pay off a certain amount of government debt.
In return the government agrees to protect a certain portion of the rain forest

16. Today’s Issues A. Preservation of the Rain Forest
B. Struggle for Democracy
C. The Income Gap
Today’s Issues

17. B. Struggle for Democracy
(not in notes; don’t copy!)
Spanish Conquest
Natives ruled by governors who took their orders from the king of Spain
Independence
Oligarchy – rule of the rich, not democratic
Discriminated against all who were not part of the Spanish ruling class
Censored the press, Limited free speech, Punished dissent against the government
Caudillos
Military dictators and political bosses
Supported by the military and the rich
Sometimes used fraud and corruption to win elections
PRI of Mexico dominated Mexican politics for 71 years
Juan and Evita Peron were famous caudillos of Argentina

18. Establishing Stable Democracies
Creating democracy in Latin America requires 3 types of change:
1. Political reform
2. Economic reform
3. Land reform

19. Political Reform
Steps that have to take place to change the way the government is run: 1. Establish a constitutional government 2. Hold free elections that respects the law 3. Participation of citizens 4. Requires people be well educated and provided with economic security

20. Economic Reform
Politics and Economy are closely related. Politicians work to keep the people happy. 1. Strong economy 2. Low unemployment 3. Achieving economic equality

21. Land Reform
A process of braking up large landholdings and giving portions of the land to the peasant farmers

22. Today’s Issues A. Preservation of the Rain Forest
B. Struggle for Democracy
C. The Income Gap
Today’s Issues

23. Social Class Division

24. The Income Gap of Latin America
vs.
A moral issue?
An economic dilemma?
A political problem?
Compassion
Education, Equality
Revolution

25. Solutions
1.Democracy provides a voice to all citizens 2.Education provides citizens with job opportunities and the skills to do specific jobs