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REGIONAL SLIDES LATIN AMERICA Santa Cruz, Bolivia Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras Gulf of Guayaquil, Ecuador Iguaz ú, South America Rondonia, Brazil Valdivian, Chile Brasilia, Brazil Santiago, Chile Yungay, Peru Escondida, Chile LATIN AMERICA
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LATIN AMERICA • Santa Cruz, Bolivia • Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras • Gulf of Guayaquil, Ecuador • Iguazú, South America • Rondonia, Brazil • Valdivian, Chile • Brasilia, Brazil • Santiago, Chile • Yungay, Peru • Escondida, Chile
LATIN AMERICA • Latin America is very rich in water resources; the region contains four of the world’s 25 largest rivers—the Amazon, Paraná, Orinoco and Magdalena • 20%of global runoff—the renewable water source that constitutes fresh water supply—comes from the Amazon Basin • The highest absolute forest loss is taking place in Brazil • 6 of the 9 hotspots rich in bird biodiversity are in Latin America – richest is the Andes (2 139 species) and Amazon basin is second (961 species) • Mining has had a long history in Chile and Peru and now accounts for more than 6% of each country's GDP Sources: GEO 2006; Mines and Communities 2005
Conversion of forests to farmlands in Santa Cruz, Bolivia • 1975: Forested landscape • 2003: Large corporate agricultural fields transform the landscape
Shrimp farms replacing mangroves in Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras 1987-1999: shrimp farms and ponds have mushroomed, carpeting the landscape around the Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras, in blocks of blue and black shapes
Changes in Ecuador’s largest sea port: Gulf of Guayaquil, Ecuador Ecuador’s primary city and largest sea port 1985-2000: Loss of mangrove and growth of aquaculture can be seen
Visible changes in Iguazú National ParkSouth America • 1973: Forest cover is extensive throughout the region • 2003: Extensive deforestation in Paraguay
Changes in tropical forests of RondoniaBrazil • 1975 -Healthy natural vegetation • 1989 -“Fishbone” pattern on the landscape indicate agriculture fields • 2001 -Agriculture continues to replace forest cover
Regular monitoring of Amazon Rainforest Almost one fifth of the Amazon rainforest has been cleared. 26,000 sq km August 2003 to August 2004 alone; 6% higher than the previous 12 months Deforestation was worst in the state of Mato Grosso
Forest plantation effort decreases native forests in Valdivian, Chile Small scale logging of native forests, livestock and agriculture have been replaced by large scale timber production • 1975-2001: Show changes in land use during the last 30 years
Unplanned growth of Brasilia, Brazil • 1973-2001: Unplanned urban development resulted in a collection of urban “satellites” around the city
Home to more than one-third of country’s population – Santiago, Chile The explosive growth of Santiago urban area
City buried by an avalancheYungay, Peru Earthquake triggers Avalanche, buries a city Scars of the events are still visible today
Earthquake ruined an entire cityYungay, Peru 1970: Earthquake wipes out Yungay, claims 18,000 lives
Escondida – world’s largest copper mineChile • 1989: Shows impoundments (white patch in the lower left corner • 2003: Shows growth and expansion of the mine
LATIN AMERICA One Planet Many People: Atlas of Our Changing Environment Thank You! Free Downloads: www.na.unep.net Purchase: www.Earthprint.com