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Environmental Issues of South America (Deforestation (Causes (Livestock…
Environmental Issues of South America
Deforestation
Causes
Livestock Ranching
: There is also forest clearing for livestock ranching, and even if it is small amounts at a time it all adds up in the end
Overpopulation
: As more and more people are either traveling to or being born into South America, there is a greater need for more land to build houses, which is land that can be gained by clearing forests.
Agricultural Expansion
: The increase in global demands for commodities such as palm oil and soybeans needs more and more land to grow it on, even if that land is already consumed by forests.
Effects
As the size of forests decrease, so do the number of animals living there. This can lead to extinction of many amazing species.
Deforestation can also lead to climate change
Deforestation releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which not only makes the air less breathable, but warms the air which encourages global warming.
Water Pollution
Effects
Food Chain Disruption
: When the polluted water kills off some animals, their entire food chain can be effected, maybe even wiping most of the animals out.
Diseases
: Even humans can be effected by water pollution, major cities that rely on rivers for water may experience medical problems in their people from the polluted water
Habitat Degradation
: The change in the water can damage or effect habitats that rely on it to live and thrive.
Causes
Dumping
: The Dumping of chemicals in rivers and lakes serves as a cheap way to remove waste, but harms local wildlife.
Sewage
: The wastewater of big cities is often deposited into rivers, polluting them and harming the local people and animals.
Global Warming
: The increased temperature in water can become too hot or too cold for the local habitat.
Conservation Efforts
Deforestation
Prevention Efforts
Sustainable forestry: This consists of timber harvesting methods that do as little to the environment as possible.
Erosion control: Many farmers have been clearing forestland in order to farm, but end up just eroding the land. They are beginning to use methods that allow minimal forest clearing.
Many organizations including the REDD, (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation
Proper stewardship practices are being more commonly used, which is decreasing the total damage done.
People are trying not to buy goods associated with illegal foresting, including cheap wood and wood products
Water Pollution
Prevention Efforts
Be careful about what you throw down your sink or toilet. Don’t throw paints, oils or other forms of litter down the drain.
Use environmentally household products, such as washing powder, household cleaning agents and toiletries.
Take great care not to overuse pesticides and fertilizers. This will prevent runoffs of the material into nearby water sources.
By having more plants in your garden you are preventing fertilizer, pesticides and contaminated water from running off into nearby water sources.
Don’t throw litter into rivers, lakes or oceans. Help clean up any litter you see on beaches or in rivers and lakes, make sure it is safe to collect the litter and put it in a nearby dustbin.
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