Exam 3 - Environmental Issues

Question 1

Deforestation

Answer 1

62% of world’s remaining tropical rainforest are located in Latin America – 12% had been destroyed by mid-90’s
Why are forests destroyed?
Pastures for cattle; large scale agriculture
Colonization programs by governments
By peasants for agriculture
Development projects – dams and industries
Logging
What are the costs of deforestation?
Erosion of topsoil
Disruption of the local climate
Forest resources for the poor lost
Loss of way of life for indigenous
Loss of biological diversity/genetic materials
Loss of commercial potential
Loss of “carbon trading” potential

Question 2

Agriculture: Soil Erosion, chemical inputs

Answer 2

Soil Erosion
Agriculture contributes to soil erosion in a number of ways
Land distribution is a factor – peasants are often located on marginal lands (like hillsides) – not practicing sustainable methods
Mechanized agriculture can also be inefficient in maintaining soil integrity
Chemical Inputs
Pesticide companies often claim philanthropic pursuits
Chemicals are typically only used on export crops (too expensive for peasant farmers) – but the health effects are felt locally
Spraying chemicals puts them into the air, and workers are often not given adequate safety instructions or safety gear
Irresponsible management – not ensuring proper use
Pesticide treadmill – more and more is needed as pest become resistant
Protective legislation/regulation is often ignored

Question 3

Extractive Industries

Answer 3

Extractive industries – mining and oil
Environmental damage integral, unavoidable; also accidents
Other industries spring up around them as well
Small producers also a problem – gold prospectors on indigenous lands in Amazon use mercury which contaminates water and land

Question 4

Economic restructuring:SAPs and export-led developments, NTAEs

Answer 4

SAPs – push for export-led growth (raw material production)
NTAE (non-traditional agricultural exports): require more chemical inputs than traditional/non-export products (EX: shrimp farms)
Maquiladoras: well known industrial polluters
Population Issues – urban areas
Smog in urban areas – industry, automobiles (75%), etc.
ISI – unchecked industrialization and agricultural policies which forced increased urbanization
Booming population growth since 1950s*