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South America Resources and Challenges. Forestry. * Forest management is important in the Amazon Region * trees such as mahogany and rosewood are exported for use in cabinets and floors * In 2006, the US imported two-thirds of its tropical wood requirements from Central and South America.
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Forestry • * Forest management is important in the Amazon Region • * trees such as mahogany and rosewood are exported for use in cabinets and floors • * In 2006, the US imported two-thirds of its tropical wood requirements from Central and South America
* Forest-based activities have potential for economic growth. Investment in forest plantations is one option for generating employment in the region in a relatively short time. • * In the long-term, forest plantations can provide raw material to a competitive timber industry, contributing to the sustainable development of the region.
In Espirito Santo, stacked eucalyptus logs await pickup. Plantations of this non-native species have replaced 7.5 million acres of forest, becoming the world's biggest source of eucalyptus pulp for paper. Photograph by Mark Moffett
Mining and Drilling • The mining industry is one of South America’s most important economic activities. • * The continent contains about one-fifth of the world’s iron ore reserves. • * Iron and steel (an iron product) are used in construction and machinery throughout the world
chuquicamata copper mine chile – world’s largest open pit copper mine • * More than one-quarter of the world’s known copper reserves are in South America, mostly in Peru and Chile. • * Chile is the world’s largest copper exporter. • * Copper is used in electrical wiring and equipment because it is a good conductor of heat and is resistant to corrosion.
* Escondida copper mine in the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile is currently the world's largest copper mine by reserve. The mine contained more than 32 million tonnes (Mt) of recoverable copper reserves at the end of 2012. * Escondida is also the world's largest copper producing mine - in the financial year ending June 2013 output stood at 1.1 million tonnes (Mt), accounting for about five percent of global copper production*
* Other important metal deposits include tin, lead, and zinc. • * Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia are major producers of tin. • * Lead and zinc deposits are found primarily in higher elevations of Peru, Bolivia, southern Brazil, and northern Argentina.
Political Geography • Definition: the relationship between governments and citizens
Historic Issues • * The Treaty of Tordesillas of 1494 granted Spain and Portugal the exclusive right to colonize all lands outside of Europe. • * The treaty also established a line of demarcation, which gave all land west of the line to Spain and all land east of the line to Portugal.
* Spain colonized the majority of South America and Portugal colonized present-day Brazil.
Independence • * Mestizos (people of European and Native heritage) were at the heart of South America’s revolutionary movement. • * Mestizos fought in several wars of independence from 1806 to 1826. • * These wars and other regional conflicts established the relatively stable boundaries of South America’s present-day countries.
* The successful Cuban revolution of 1959 brought communism to Cuba. The United States and other western nations feared that communism would spread throughout Latin America, which includes Central and South America and parts of the Caribbean. • * Hoping to destroy the communist presence, U.S.-backed military dictatorships overthrew the governments of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
* These dictatorships detained tens of thousands of political prisoners. Many of them were tortured and killed. • * These nations’ current democratic governments continue to investigate the atrocities that occurred during the dictatorship era.
Modern Issues • * Today, South America’s political geography can be defined by a desire to reduce foreign influence. • * The nationalization and privatization of industry, are political issues affecting South America.
* Nationalization is a type of ownership where the state controls an industry, as opposed to private companies. • * Some South American nations have nationalized industries, such as electricity or oil production, in order to encourage economic development. • * Two important leaders of the current trend of nationalization are Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and Bolivian President Evo Morales.
Future Issues • * Urbanization • * Climate Change
* The cities on the map are the largest cities in South America. What do you notice about their location? • * Where are there few or no large cities? • * Do you see a pattern? Why might this pattern exist? • * Are there cities that don’t fit the pattern? Why do you think they are located where they are?
* This pattern is called the “hollow continent” phenomenon • because… • most of the people live around the edges of the continent. • There are many factors contributing to this pattern, including the following: • • Access to Water • • Natural Resources • • Accessibility of the Area • • Historical Events:
* Latin America is the most urbanized of the world’s developing regions. It is the only developing region with more poor people in cities than in rural areas. • * South America’s rural areas will suffer as more and more investment is made in the continent’s cities. • * In rural areas, poor people face the consequences of geographic isolation and limited public investment in education, health care, and housing.
* South America’s economic growth over the last half-century has prompted its cities to expand rapidly. These cities, however, often suffer from inefficient transportation and utility systems, pollution, and unregulated residential growth. * Despite these problems economic opportunities have attracted many poor migrantsto the cities. • * This flood of immigration has spurred the creation of massive shantytowns, called favelas. • * Favelas are often removed from the city center and disconnected from basic city services, such as water, sewage, and electricity.
Inside Rio’s Favelas, the city’s neglected neighborhoods • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3BRTlHFpBU
Taming the City of God • http://www.nytimes.com/video/world/americas/1248069140837/taming-the-city-of-god.html
A 45-Story Walkup Beckons the Desperate • http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/world/americas/01venezuela.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all?src=tp
* More than 99% of the world’s tropical glaciers are in South America, and 71% of those are found Peru. • * These glaciers are crucial to Peru’s water supply as they slowly release water into rivers which provide drinking water and water for agriculture, hydroelectricity and industry such as agro-exports and mining. • * Studies show that, since 1970, Peru's glaciers have irretrievably lost a third of their surface area. The now unavoidable melting of glaciers will severely reduce water supplies
