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Discover the impact of air pollution in Mexico City and deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest. Learn about causes, effects, and innovative solutions to combat environmental degradation in these regions.
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Latin America’s Environmental Concerns Unit 6 Notes
Air Pollution in Mexico City • nearly 20 million people live there • second most populated city in the world--Tokyo is first • Mexico City’s population & location contribute to its bad air pollution problem. • considered to be the most polluted city in the world
Air Pollution in Mexico City Causes • huge population = lots of cars • Factories produce pollution • Sierra Madre mountains surround the city and trap the polluted air.
Effects • Air is unhealthy causing some people to have trouble breathing. • Acid rain damages vegetation and harms buildings and ancient monuments/ruins in Mexico.
Solutions To reduce pollution: • the city promotes public transportation (buses, subway). 2. There are new restrictions on car use. 3. Sometimes factories are closed for the day, which hurts their economy.
Amazon Rainforest • It is the largest rainforest in the world. • The rainforest lies mostly in Brazil. • It experiences a hot, humid, and rainy tropical climate. • It is home to a huge variety of plants, trees, insects, birds, & animals. • It produces 1/3 of the earth’s oxygen. • Many plants are used to make medicines.
Deforestation in the Amazon RainforestCauses: • Forests are being cleared to make room for farming and create more land for cattle grazing.
Effects of Deforestation… • Plants & animals are losing their homes; many are endangered, and some are becoming extinct. • Loss of trees increases carbon dioxide • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBqMJzv4Cs8
Cows grazing in an area that used to be a part of the Amazon Rainforest
Solutions… • The government is working to fix the deforestation problem by passing laws restricting the cutting down of too many trees.
Oil-Related Pollution in Venezuela Causes • One of the world’s leading producers of oil • Oil production has boosted economy • Main source of income for many people
Effects… • Oil production results in toxic waste, air pollution, & oil spills which damage the environment. • hurts the ability of fishermen to earn a living • Oil businesses have damaged Lake Maracaibo (largest lake in South America).
Lake Maracaibo • Large amounts of oil have been removed from the area so the land is changing. • eastern shore of the lake is dropping about three inches a year • government is having to take precautions to keep water from flooding into nearby towns
Problems… • Money from selling oil is the country’s main source of income. • Venezuelans are motivated to keep producing, selling, and burning oil--and polluting. • Mostly cosmetic fixes are being done.
Solutions… • People are becoming aware that the cost in the long term may be too great. • Groups are calling for renewable energy sources and the clean-up and prevention of pollution. • Mostly cosmetic fixes are being done.
