Environmental crises represent a factor to be considered by humanity, mainly attributed to the continuous pollution caused by human actions, deteriorating the environment and reducing the possibility of natural resources, generating difficulties in some regions that are seriously affected, In this case we will learn a little more about Environmental Problems in America, specifically the South American region considered the lung of the world.
Environmental Problems in America
Environmental problems are known as the harmful effects that harm the ecosystems of planet earth, they represent a consequence of the different human activities carried out by man. This type of result can be caused directly (excessive logging, inappropriate tillage) or indirectly (oil spills). By not being corrected in time, this type of circumstance can generate an unpredictable change in the environment, causing natural disasters that harm society.
Industrialization has caused a continuous environmental deterioration, because it is focused on the consumption of raw materials or natural resources that nature offers, considering that environmental problems had a drastic increase since the industrial revolution, due to the development of large companies and industries that they did not present control of the waste generated and also due to the growth of urban areas, reducing green areas and increasing pollution on various scales.
Currently it represents a latent concern, more and more environments are affected, the species of extinct flora and fauna and the constant deterioration of natural resources. It is a circumstance that includes all the nations of the world, where each one is affected in different ways according to their geographical position, population number and development of urban areas.
Environmental problems are more prominent in those developed countries that have a greater number of inhabitants and greater consumption of natural resources, while there are third-world countries that do not have a high deterioration factor but do have a relevant rate of pollution, caused by countries neighbors destroying natural habitats and causing the loss of numerous natural resources. This is attributed to the environmental drawbacks represent a chain factor that harms all nations.
In this case, the regions located in the American continent will be highlighted, specifically in the Latin American region made up of eight countries, it should be noted that within these environments there is 70% of all the biodiversity on planet earth. Considering itself as the largest reserve of animal species, including mammals, amphibians, birds, among others, and also for presenting a great biological diversity of plant species that participate in the biochemical process of photosynthesis that provides oxygen for the maintenance of life in the world.
However, Latin American inhabitants are not aware of the riches that are present in their territories, so they carry out a wide variety of practices that destroy the environment such as deforestation, water pollution, drought, smuggling of endemic species, illegal extraction of minerals, among others. The countries that stand out are Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.
These nations represent the group with the greatest biodiversity of flora and fauna on the entire planet earth, due to this they present serious environmental problems that have slowly deteriorated natural regions such as excessive logging, uncontrolled agriculture, massive livestock, oil spills, among others. . Governments have not given an adequate response to all these inconveniences, therefore they have not taken measures to solve these inconveniences.
In Latin America, a third of all global deforestation is recorded, including native forest figures of approximately 22%, which is equivalent to more than 860 million hectares. One of the main examples is the distributed Amazon located in the northern region of South America encompassing several countries such as Brazil, where the greatest biodiversity of flora species is observed, in 2019 approximately 7464 square kilometers of the Amazon within its region were destroyed, due to illegal practices of mineral extraction, deforestation and water pollution.
Latin American Countries with Environmental Problems
In Latin America there is the largest natural reserve of plant species and diversity of animals that constitutes them as the main source of life on the entire planet earth, due to this practices have been carried out that have deteriorated the local environment and harmed the nation, Below we will learn about the environmental problems of some of the Latin American countries described below:
Colombia
Colombia is the country located in the northwestern region of South America, noted for being rich in diverse ecosystems, they have a variety of flora and fauna, it is also recognized for having more than 1800 species of birds, such as the Andean condor, hummingbird, among others, while 130 thousand species of plants are stipulated within their habitats. Highlighting being a country rich in biodiversity of species.
It is estimated that approximately 300000 hectares of forests are destroyed each year due to drug production in the country. This process is based on producing one gram of cocaine, which is planted in four square meters of forest. Being a very harmful factor for the country's environment, also causing deterioration of society due to the consumption of narcotics that influence the environment.
Cuba
Cuba has very favorable geographical conditions, highlighting a tropical climate and located in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, giving it endemic flora and fauna species (unique in that region) in addition to granting ideal natural conditions for social development, being also sought after by numerous tourists for the Enjoy its beaches and natural landscapes.
At present, Cuba presents strong drought difficulties in most of the country, considering that it spends long periods of summer, for example, in 2009 it is considered one of the four least rainy years since the last 109 years. Also on the island there is a strong sugar activity, housing construction and livestock that has caused the disappearance of forests, extinction of tree species and intense soil erosion.
Argentina
Argentina is located at the southern end of the South American continent, it is considered the fourth largest country in all of Latin America and the eighth with the largest land area. It presents a great diversity of ecosystems, highlighting the Antarctica (south pole) with very low climatic conditions and the Malvinas constitute an archipelago located in Argentine waters. This makes it a very rich country in natural environments.
The environmental problems of the Argentine country lie in the Matanza-Riachuelo basin, located in the southern limit of Buenos Aires, highlighting a population region of up to five million people. Due to the industrial activities in the area, the water currents have been affected by the numerous wastes present, causing a precarious condition in the region for decades, where approximately 88500 cubic meters of water have been contaminated.
Bolivia
It is the country located in the center of South America, standing out for being a region with large extensions of mountain ranges that are distributed around the entire region, the known ones are the Cordilleras de los Andes, Meseta de Callao, La Cuenca del Plata and the Amazon Basin. . It has a cold and dry climate throughout the year and 28% of the entire territory consists of the Andean Region, being inhabited by various citizens.
The main environmental problems include mining, highlighting the illegal extraction of mineral resources such as lead that ends up transiting in water currents three times more than 0,05 milligrams of liquid, adding to this the presence of mercury that comes from extraction. from Venezuela and Brazil; Over time, it causes the contamination of the country's water, bringing serious consequences for health.
Peru
It is a country located in the central and western region of South America, it is constituted by being rich in natural environments between coastal, Andean and Amazonian regions; making it a diverse country rich in natural resources. Due to geographical conditions and illegal mining practices, Peru has a critical situation in La Oroya, which is considered the most polluted city in all of Latin America, this is attributed to the health problems presented by citizens affected by particles of metals found in the air released by metallurgical complexes.
Chile and Ecuador
Chile is considered a territory that extends in the south of South America, there is a set of archipelagos that extend throughout the entire territory, being in contact with the waters of the South Pacific. As for Ecuador, it is a country located in the northern part of Latin America, it also has a set of archipelagos, islands and mountain ranges that give it a great variety of ecosystems.
Chile has been affected by environmental problems due to contamination caused by lead and arsenic in Árica, a region that borders Peru. Since the mid-80s, approximately twenty thousand tons of toxic waste have been deposited, seriously harming the health of nearby inhabitants. While in Ecuador it deals with the oil exploitation that has generated great ecological disasters, influencing the indigenous communities and the natural habitats of the region, for which lawsuits have been filed against multinationals such as Chevron-Texaco accused of having caused serious environmental damage. in the Amazon area.
Haiti
Considered as one of the Spanish islands located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic continent with approximately 1771 kilometers of coastline, standing out for its marine diversity, it does not have navigable rivers and its lakes are masses of salt water. The abundance of water and favorable climatic conditions have caused an increase in biodiversity in plant species, leading to excessive felling of trees for charcoal production, losing approximately 30 million species a year, this fact is a threat in converting a desert to this country.
Currently there is only approximately 2% of the forest cover, due to this serious measures have been taken to reduce the problem, such as the application of the "Zero Deforestation" law, allowing the impact of the felled hectares to be reduced, but it is considered as a slow option for the aggressiveness of the activity. In addition to this, Haiti is a nation victim of environmental disasters that have been generated by mining and the accumulation of toxic waste.
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