subject: The Environmental Issues Of South America [print this page] The increasing economic growth of many South American countries has also brought on a whole host of environmental issues into the country. Each country would have, depending on their economic growth, different problems which threaten to harm their nation and population in the long run.
Argentina. Because of the economic growth, one major environmental problem is the air pollution in Buenos Aires and other major cities. The urban areas also have the many problems associated with urbanization, such as blight, water pollution, flooding and improper land use. In the countryside, deforestation has been causing erosion leading to topsoil degradation. Farms, with the increased demand, has been overusing fertilizer and pesticide use, which then leads to water degradation of rivers and reservoirs leading to the urban areas.
Bolivia. Because of the increasing population, many forest areas have been cleared for agricultural and commercial use. The demand for timber products has also added on to the increasing decline in the forest cover of the country. This leads to soil erosion and desertification as trees are cut down. The biodiversity of the animal population is also on the decline as forest lands are used, which in then affects the overall water table and purity in the country.
Brazil. Much of the environmental issues stem from the increased deforestation of the Amazon basin. Furthermore, the increased commercial and industrial activity has increased the air pollution in the major cities of the country, such as Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paolo and others. The mining in the country has also contributed to the degradation of the water reservoir and surrounding environment due to the improper disposal of waste and other hazardous chemicals.
Uruguay. This country has become a victim of the industrialization of Brazil. Because of the shared border with Brazil, one-fifth of Uruguay suffers from acid rain generated by its next-door neighbor. Its water supplies also have become contaminated because of the improper disposal of wastes from industries in the country. Because of the presence of weather barriers, pollution generated in the country becomes stagnant in the country and is multiplied with the pollution from Brazil.
Venezuela. Much of the problems of Venezuela comes from the improper waste management that finds itself in the Lago de Valencia and the Lago de Maracaibo. These come from sewage and industrial pollution from the many companies that dot the banks of these bodies of water. Another major environmental issue is soil degradation as forests are cut down and erosion takes its toll.
The countries aforementioned have many identified environmental issues brought about by their sudden economic growth. The countries urban and industrial centers have clearly affected their countries environmental landscape. While steps are being done to manage these issues, there is still much that needs to be done.
