GeoJournalAs you read this chapter, use your journal to note examples of how geography affectslife in Latin America and how the people ofthis region interact with their environment.

Chapter Overview Visit the Glencoe WorldGeography Web site at tx.geography.glencoe.comand click on Chapter Overviews—Chapter 10 topreview information about the region today.

Living in LatinAmerica

A Geographic ViewUnlikely NeighborsTijuana’s character changes fromstreet to street. In one colonia, orneighborhood, people wash laun-dry in tubs. . . . Up another roadyou pass dozens of modest homesbuilt of concrete block and metal.Across town in wealthy ColoniaChapultepec, magnificent homesare built like fortresses right tothe edge of the sidewalk. . . .Upper-middle-class sectionsabut neighborhoods of shackswith chickens, stray dogs,winding dirt roads, and crumblingembankments.

—Michael Parfit, “Tijuana and the Border," National Geographic, August 1996

Like Mexico’s Tijuana, many Latin American citiesreveal the sharp divisions between the wealthy and the poor. Theseclass differences stem from social, political, and economic factors, butthey are also shaped by physical geography. In this section you willlearn about the ways in which Latin America’s physical environmentrelates to the region’s economic development and quality of life.

AgricultureAlthough about three-fourths of Latin America’s people live in

cities, most of the region’s countries still depend on agriculture tosupply a major portion of their incomes. Latin American countriesexport, or sell to other countries, much of what their farms produce,such as bananas, sugarcane, and coffee.

Guide to ReadingConsider What You KnowThe North American Free TradeAgreement (NAFTA) has been thefocus of economic and political newsin recent years. What do you knowabout this agreement? How doesNAFTA affect your community?

Read to Find Out• What is the basis of the economies

of many Latin American countries?

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of the North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA) for Mexico?

• What are the causes and conse-quences of Latin America’s econom-ically dependent status?

• How has the region’s physical geography affected transportationand communications?

Terms to Know• export • service industry

• campesino • maquiladora

• latifundia • North American

• minifundia Free Trade

• cash crop Agreement

• developing(NAFTA)

country

Places to Locate• Honduras

• Tijuana

C h a p t e r 1 0 237

Modern Santiago, Chile,reflects the past.

Tijuana, Mexico

History

Latifundia and MinifundiaFor centuries farmland in Latin America has been

unevenly distributed between a small group ofwealthy landowners and a much larger force ofcampesinos (KAM•puh•SEE•nohs), or rural farm-ers and workers. Large agricultural estates ownedby wealthy families or corporations are called latifundia. Today’s latifundia are highly mechanizedcommercial operations that yield high returns forlow investment in labor. All other farms are calledminifundia, small plots of land intensively farmedby campesinos to feed their families. Campesinos,though, rarely own these plots, which are held byeither wealthy landowners or the government.

The centuries-old system of latifundia and mini-fundia is gradually breaking down, however. As latifundia become more mechanized, farmworkersare leaving the land for the cities. In addition,

reform-minded governments are passing laws todistribute farmland more fairly. Many campesinoshave formed agricultural cooperatives, combiningminifundia into large, jointly run farms. The legacyof economic inequality, however, is difficult toovercome completely, and Latin America’scampesinos remain very poor.

Cash Crops and LivestockLatin America’s physical geography makes it

a suitable region for growing cash crops, crops pro-duced in large quantities to be sold or traded. Fertilehighlands help make Brazil, Mexico, Guatemala,and Colombia among the world’s leading coffeeproducers. Lush, tropical coastal areas enable Cen-tral America, as well as Jamaica, Honduras,Ecuador, and Brazil, to be major producers ofbananas. Tropical climates and fertile soil also helpmake Brazil and Cuba the world’s leading produc-ers of sugarcane. These export crops, all grown mostefficiently on latifundia, usually benefit large-scalecommercial producers more than individual farm-ers. In addition to growing cash crops, some LatinAmerican countries—Argentina, Mexico, andBrazil—raise cattle for export on large rancheslocated in grassland areas.

Countries run great risks, however, when theydepend on just one or two export products. Ifdroughts, floods, or volcanic eruptions destroy acountry’s cash crop, the damage to that coun-try’s economy causes great hardship. In 1998Hurricane Mitch devastated parts of CentralAmerica and destroyed about 90 percent of thebanana crop, the main export, in Honduras.Tragically, the storm hit Honduras just as it wasbeginning to make some economic progress.

IndustryMost of Latin America’s countries are developing

countries, or countries that are working towardgreater manufacturing and technology use. Coun-tries with skilled workforces, good energy supplies,efficient transportation networks, and many naturalresources are industrializing more rapidly thancountries without these advantages. In many LatinAmerican countries, service industries, such asbanking, which provide services rather than goods,have grown rapidly in recent decades.

Mexican Countryside Farmers harvest limeson a latifundium near the Mexico-U.S. border.

Human-Environment Interaction What is the difference between subsistence farming and cash-cropfarming?

especially near the Mexican cities of Ciudad Juárezand Tijuana—where they employ many Mexicans.Maquiladoras benefit foreign corporations byallowing them to hire low-cost labor and to pro-duce duty-free exports. They also offer the hostcountry and its people employment opportunitiesand investment income. As one observer noted:

“ . . . Tijuana lures foreign investors withcheap labor and proximity to U.S. mar-kets, while beckoning workers fromacross Mexico with the chance for a newbeginning. Here their dreams convergeand sometimes collide, pulled hard bythe magnet of the north.”Michael Parfit, “Tijuana and the Bor-

der,” National Geographic, August 1996

Industrial GrowthSeveral factors have limited

industrial growth in LatinAmerica. Physical geographymay present obstacles. Thehigh Andes and the denseAmazon rain forest, for exam-ple, limit access to naturalresources. Ties to more devel-oped regions also have lim-ited growth. Foreigners havebrought new technology to theregion, but many have drainedlocal resources and profits.Finally, political instability inmany Latin American coun-tries has made investors waryof investing in Latin Americanenterprises.

Some Latin American coun-tries, however, are overcomingthese barriers. They combine thenecessary human and naturalresources with relatively stablegovernments and active busi-ness communities. Mexico, forexample, is a major producer ofmotor vehicles, textiles, andprocessed foods. Brazil is a lead-ing producer of iron and steel,cars, airplanes, textiles, and elec-trical goods. After weathering serious financialcrises in the 1990s, both countries emerged withstronger economies because of their expandingglobal trade.

Other countries in the region also are developingindustries. Argentina produces cars and processedmeats. Venezuela refines oil, and Chile, Costa Rica,and Nicaragua all produce foods and textiles.Bolivia mines and refines tin, and Barbados, Cuba,and Saint Kitts and Nevis refine sugar.

Economics

MaquiladorasDuring the past 50 years, American and Japanese

firms have built manufacturing plants in LatinAmerican countries. Most of these factories, knownas maquiladoras (muh•KEE•luh•DOHR•uhs),lie along the Mexico–United States border—

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GRAPH STUDY

Mexico: Workers in Maquiladoras

1. Interpreting Graphs How did the number of workers in Mexico’smaquiladoras change between 1980 and 2000?

2. Applying Geography Skills How might the presence ofmaquiladoras impact local economies in Mexico?

Critics of maquiladoras charge that the systemoften ignores labor and environmental protectionlaws, damaging the environment and encouraginglow-paying or dangerous jobs. As the world’s econ-omy becomes globalized, developing countries willweigh the benefits and drawbacks of their associa-tions with industries of the developed world.

Trade and InterdependenceLike other countries of the world, Latin American

countries depend on trade to obtain the goods andfood that they cannot produce. Some Latin Americancountries, for example, import raw materials andexpensive technology. In recent years Latin Americahas begun to promote trade within the region andwith the rest of the world.

Economics

NAFTAIn 1992 Mexico, the United States, and Canada

signed the North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA). NAFTA gradually reduced trade restric-tions and increased the flow of goods, services, andpeople among these countries. After NAFTA wasimplemented, trade among the three countries grewby 10 to 15 percent annually.

NAFTA, however, has been controversial in theUnited States. American labor groups fear the lossof jobs to generally lower-paid Mexican workers.Still, U.S. companies have not yet relocated southof the border in large numbers because certainproduction costs, such as electricity, are higher inMexico. From Mexico’s viewpoint, NAFTA hashelped boost exports and create thousands of newjobs. Other Latin American countries are watchingMexico’s economy to see if an agreement likeNAFTA could work for them.

Foreign DebtsMany Latin American countries borrow funds

from foreign sources to finance industrial develop-ment. During the 1980s a worldwide economicslowdown caused a sharp decline in demand forLatin America’s products. When their incomes fell,many Latin American governments threatened todefault, or not pay back their loans on time. Lendersthen rescheduled the loans, which lengthened thetime allowed to repay them and decreased monthly

payments. However, this remedy also raised thetotal amount of interest on the debt. Repaying largeforeign debts has halted needed domestic programsin some countries. Now international agencies arelooking for other ways to offer debt relief.

TransportationIn Latin America building roads and railroads is

difficult. Many governments cannot afford build-ing projects that must cross rugged mountains,dense rain forests, and arid deserts. Even so, someLatin American countries do have good roads. Theregion’s major road system, the Pan-AmericanHighway, stretches from northern Mexico to southern

Traditional Handicrafts Local potters in Peruproduce clay jars and jugs to sell.

Region What other goods are produced in LatinAmerica?

240 U n i t 3

Checking for Understanding1. Define export, campesino, latifun-

dia, minifundia, cash crop, devel-oping country, service industry,maquiladora, North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

2. Main Ideas On a table, fill in exam-ples of how five Latin Americancountries produce income.

Critical Thinking3. Drawing Conclusions Why might

political instability in a countrydiscourage investors?

4. Identifying Cause and Effect Whateffects might defaulting on debtrepayments have?

5. Making Comparisons How are latifundia and minifundia systemsof farming alike? Different?

Analyzing Maps6. Place Study the economic activity

map on page 185. Which countriesproduce the most petroleum?

7. Industrialization In a para-graph, discuss why indus-trialization requires goodtransportation and com-munications systems.Describe the impact of new technologies.

Applying Geography

Chile and links more than a dozen Latin Americancapitals. A trans-Andean highway runs through theAndes and links cities in Chile and Argentina. Todevelop the Amazon Basin’s mineral resources,Brazil is building the Trans-Amazonian Highway.

Although physical barriers limit railroad use,Mexico, Panama, Argentina, and Brazil have well-developed rail systems. In some places, however,railways have fallen into disrepair. As a result,inland waterways such as the Amazon River, theParaná-Paraguay Rivers, and the Panama Canalremain important. As air travel becomes moreaffordable it will help overcome geographic barriers.All Latin American capitals and most major citiesreceive domestic and international flights. MexicoCity, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulohave the region’s busiest airports. Many private andmilitary landing strips serve remote locations.

CommunicationsLatin America’s developing communications net-

works include newspapers, radio, and television,but all may be censored by governments duringpolitical unrest. Millions of Latin Americans usetelephones, but few have them in their homes.Some countries cannot afford the equipmentneeded to provide residential phone service. Inlarger cities though, many people, especially youngpeople, use cellular phones.

Although computer technology is slowly chang-ing communications in Latin America, most peoplecannot afford personal computers. In 1998, on aver-age, only 34 of every 1,000 Latin Americans ownedcomputers. Innovative ways to offer computeraccess, such as Peru’s public Internet centers, arehelping Latin Americans go online, however.

C h a p t e r 1 0 241

Latin American Country Chief Source of Income

An Andean highway echoes the past when Inca roads crossed the area.

Guide to ReadingConsider What You KnowPeople around the world are con-cerned about the destruction of LatinAmerica’s rain forests. Why is thepreservation of the rain forestsimportant, and what makes thisissue so complex?

Read to Find Out• How has development affected Latin

America’s forest resources?

• How are Latin American govern-ments working to balance forestconservation with human andeconomic development?

• What challenges are posed by thegrowth of Latin America’s urbanpopulation?

• What regional and internationalissues continue to pose challengesfor Latin American countries?

Terms to Know• sustainable development

• deforestation

• slash-and-burn

• reforestation

• shantytown

Places to Locate• São Paulo

• El Salvador

People and TheirEnvironment

A Geographic ViewA Crucial DecisionTaking life slow, a three-toed slothhangs out on an ambaibo tree along the Río Tuichi in Madidi National Park. A planned hydro-electric dam may permanently [flood] this area—claiming one ofSouth America’s most biologicallydiverse rain forests even before it has been fully explored.

—Steve Kemper, “Madidi,” National Geographic, March 2000

Bolivia and other Latin American countries facea difficult choice: whether to preserve large tracts of wilderness, such asMadidi National Park in northwestern Bolivia, or develop these areas forthe purpose of raising peoples’ standard of living. One way of resolvingthis dilemma is to work toward sustainable development—technologi-cal and economic growth that does not deplete the human and naturalresources of a given area. In this section you will learn about the interre-lationship of Latin Americans and their environment, and how the regionis working to protect the environment while meeting human needs.

Managing Rain ForestsAs you recall, extensive rain forests cover South America’s Amazon

River basin and the coastal areas of the Caribbean region. Like rainforests in other regions of the world, those in Latin America are dis-appearing as a result of deforestation, the clearing or destruction offorests. Although the threats to the world’s rain forests are well known,the proposed strategies for preserving them are hotly debated.

242 U n i t 3

Three-toed sloth

C h a p t e r 1 0 243

Brazil’s experience serves as an example of thecomplexity of the deforestation issue. During thepast several decades, Brazil has worked to boostits economy by tapping the rain forest’s vast min-eral resources, such as petroleum, iron, copper,and tin. Roads have been carved out of the rainforest to open up Brazil’s interior to settlement anddevelopment. For example, a 3,400-mile (5,472-km)east-west segment of the Trans-Amazonian High-way now crosses the region. This development ofBrazil’s interior, however, has proved disastrousfor the Amazon rain forest and its indigenoushuman and animal inhabitants. The indigenouspeople of Brazil’s interior have seen their homesand traditional ways of life disappear along withtrees, other forms of vegetation, and animal life.

More than 13 percent of the Amazon rain foresthas already been destroyed. (See the map below.)As the Amazon rain forest is depleted, the diversityof Earth’s plant and animal species is threatened.Many of the world’s key medicines are derivedfrom rain forest plants and organisms, and defor-estation risks the loss of compounds that have the

potential to treat cancer and other illnesses.Because plants use carbon dioxide and produceoxygen, destroying rain forest plants could resultin less carbon dioxide being used and more of itremaining in the atmosphere. Since carbon dioxideis a greenhouse gas that helps trap heat, cata-strophic global warming, climate change, and ris-ing ocean levels could result. Traditional wisdomhas another way of expressing the value of rainforests, as one journalist notes:

“ ‘Who cuts the trees as he pleases cutsshort his own life.’ The Maya adage . . . is spoken in a language that uses thesame word for both ‘blood’ and ‘ tree sap.’”George E. Stuart, “Maya Heart-

land Under Siege,” NationalGeographic, November 1992

Brazil and other rain forest countries are listen-ing to the advice of scientists and environmental-ists, but they still face pressing social and economic

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MAP STUDY

The Shrinking Rain Forest

Find NGS online map resources @www.nationalgeographic.com/maps

Development in the interiorsince the 1950s, such as theplanned city of Brasília, hasresulted in the clearing oflarge areas of rain forest.

1. Interpreting MapsDescribe the change to the area the rain forest covered in South Americafrom 1950 to 2000.

2. Applying GeographySkills How has humanactivity threatened theAmazon rain forest and the indigenous people of Brazil?

realities. If Brazil were to ban the use of rain forestlands, for example, how would it provide for allthe people who would no longer have a wayto support themselves? How would the countryhandle population growth in coastal areas if vaststretches of the interior were off-limits to its people?

Economics

Farms and Ranches Versus ForestsOne of the most widespread activities in the

Amazon Basin is the clearing of rain forest to pro-vide more land for farming. To prepare the land, set-tlers use an ancient technique called slash-and-burnfarming—but practiced on a larger scale. Farmerscut down all plants and strip any trees of bark.After the plants and trees have dried out, they areset on fire. The ash from the fire puts nutrients intothe soil. Unfortunately, frequent rains leach awaythe benefits, and within one or two years, the soilloses its fertility or is washed away. Crop yieldsdecline, and farmers move on to clear new parts ofthe forest.

Slash-and-burn methods are also used to carvehuge cattle ranches out of the forest. Ranchersplant grasses in the charred ground for cattle graz-ing. After about four years, the grasses dry up andthe ranchers, like the farmers, move on. The spentland supports little growth, and centuries-old rainforests have disappeared in just a few years.

Planting for the FutureFarming and ranching are not the only activities

that contribute to deforestation in the Amazon area.Commercial logging operations harvest trees for tim-ber and other products. Some estimates indicate thatfor every tree cut, two-thirds of the wood is wasted.Since colonial times, few attempts have been made toregulate the profitable logging industry. Today, how-ever, the importance of conserving and restoring for-est resources in Brazil and other Latin American

countries has become increasingly clear. Brazil hasset aside about 10 percent of its Amazon rain forestfor national forests or parks in which logging isbanned. In Costa Rica concerned citizens are buyingabandoned, burned-over tropical forests that wereonce home to old-growth mahogany and other trees.The citizens then donate the land to a conservationdistrict for restoration.

Given time, rain forests will regenerate ontheir own but with a considerable loss of biodi-versity. Laws requiring reforestation—theplanting of young trees or the seeds of trees onthe land that has been stripped—can help, espe-cially if the laws are rigorously enforced. Devel-oping new methods of farming, mining, andlogging and combining conservation withresponsible tourism can protect the forests whileboosting local economies.

Urban EnvironmentsLatin America also has environmental challenges

in its urban areas. More of the region’s people livein megacities or towns than in rural areas. In 2000Mexico City and São Paulo (sown POW•loo)ranked as the world’s second- and fourth-largestmetropolitan areas.

Overcrowded CitiesAs Latin America’s rural workers migrate to cities,

they often cannot find jobs or adequate housing.Some are forced to live in slums or shantytowns,makeshift communities on the edges of cities.Known in different cities by different names—thefavelas of São Paulo, the barriadas of Bogotá, and thevillas miserias of Buenos Aires—these shantytownsoften rest on dangerous slopes and wetlands. Mud-slides, floods, and other natural disasters can wipeout entire communities. Lacking running water andunderground sewage systems, these areas are alsounsanitary, so diseases can spread rapidly. Becausepeople have little or no money to buy food, malnu-trition is common, especially among children.

Air pollution affects people in cities withoutadequate clean air laws. Millions of vehicles clogcity streets and release massive amounts ofexhaust gases into the air. Added to that are pollu-tants from industrial smokestacks. In Mexico City,air pollution can become so severe that authorities

Student Web Activity Visit the Glencoe World GeographyWeb site at tx.geography.glencoe.com and click on Student WebActivities—Chapter 10 for an activity about economic devel-opment in Brazil.

244 U n i t 3

periodically order cars off the roads and childrenare not allowed to play outside.

Building a Better LifeRapid urbanization creates environmental chal-

lenges for Latin American cities. Cities experiencerapid urbanization when their rates of populationgrowth far exceed the available resources for hous-ing, sanitation, employment, education, and gov-ernment services.

The trend toward urbanization is global and is notlikely to be reversed. Governments and interna-tional agencies, however, are beginning to addressthe needs of Latin America’s urban areas. Forexample, Mexico City’s recent improvementsinclude a new water supply system and expandedpublic transportation. The World Bank has targetedcities in Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, and Guatemala forintensive neighborhood improvements. Grassroots

efforts are even more promising. Groups of home-less people in cities such as Buenos Aires, Rio deJaneiro, and Santiago have successfully turnedabandoned city buildings into affordable housingand commercial space.

Regional and International Issues

The quality of life in Latin America today con-tinues to be shaped by geographic, economic, andhistorical realities that reach beyond national bor-ders. Regional cooperation in addressing interna-tional issues will help move the region forward.

History

Disputed BordersDuring the past 150 years, Latin America has

faced a number of territorial conflicts. These

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GRAPH STUDY

Population Growth in Selected Cities

C h a p t e r 1 0 245

Buenos Aires, Argentina

1. Interpreting Graphs Which city has experienced the largestincrease in population growth?

2. Applying Geography Skills What pattern do you observe in thefuture population sizes of these cities?

conflicts occur over disputed regions involvingstrategic locations or rights to valuable naturalresources. Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador,for example, have quarreled over fishing rights inthe Gulf of Fonseca. Venezuela and Guyana battleover petroleum holdings along their shared bor-der. Border wars divert resources that might betterbe used for development, but economic incentivescan encourage countries to resolve their differ-ences. After going to war three times, Peru andEcuador finally settled a 60-year-old border dis-pute in 1998. During the negotiations internationalinvestors offered more than $3 billion in aid todevelop economies and human services on bothsides of the border.

Population Growth and MigrationThrough education and economic improvement,

most Latin American countries have begun tolower the high birthrates that have led to over-population. In the 2000s Latin America’s popula-tion challenges will likely involve balancing the

distribution of goods and services. Migrationwithin the region—for economic or political rea-sons, or to escape the devastation of natural disas-ters—will continue to strain the resources ofovercrowded cities.

In addition, growing numbers of Latin Americanshave migrated abroad, especially to the UnitedStates. Many of these migrants have come to theUnited States to find a better way of life, some enter-ing without visas. Others are well-educated peopleor skilled workers who could make important con-tributions to their home countries. For example, ifscientists or researchers leave Latin America, itscountries may ultimately lack the human resourcesnecessary to solve environmental problems. Tostem this out-migration, Latin American leadersare seeking to create jobs for their people by attract-ing more foreign investment.

Latin American migrants, meanwhile, havebrought many changes to the United States. Immi-gration from Latin America has made the UnitedStates the country with the fifth largest Spanish-

Mexico’s Smoking MountainThe volcano Popocatépetl smokes while children play in central Mexico.

Human-Environment Interaction How are Latin American governments usingtechnology to better plan for natural disasters?

Checking for Understanding1. Define sustainable development,

deforestation, slash-and-burn,reforestation, shantytown.

2. Main Ideas Use a diagram similarto the one below to identifyactivities that have contributed to deforestation in Latin America.

Critical Thinking3. Predicting Consequences How

might the destruction of the Amazon rain forest affect your life?

4. Making Comparisons Comparethe ways urban populations inLatin America and those in yourstate have modified their physicalenvironments.

5. Drawing Conclusions What circum-stances might make environmentalprotection a low priority for someLatin American governments?

Analyzing Maps6. Human-Environment Interaction

Study the maps of the Amazonrain forest on page 243. Whatkinds of activities are responsiblefor these changes?

7. Mental Mapping Withoutconsulting a map, identifythe Latin American coun-tries most at risk from hurri-canes. Write a descriptionof ways that a hurricane is a threat to these countries.

Applying Geography

speaking population in the world. Latin Americanshave contributed much to the many communitiesin which they have settled—Mexicans in Texas,California, and Illinois; Cubans in Florida; andPuerto Ricans and Dominicans in New York.

Disaster PreparednessLatin America’s physical geography makes the

region especially vulnerable to natural disasters,such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and hurri-canes, which take a huge toll in human life and eco-nomic resources. In order to increase the region’semergency preparedness, Latin American govern-ments are cooperating in the use of sophisticatedtechnology, such as satellite imaging and computermodeling, to forecast the direction and severity ofhurricanes, for example. Such cooperative efforts canhelp Latin Americans anticipate emergencies ratherthan reacting after the fact. The savings in lives andeconomic resources are sure to be significant.

Industrial PollutionAir and water pollution do not respect national

boundaries. Multinational firms and free-tradeagreements have increased industrial growth insome countries. Environmental laws, however,have not reduced the risks of increased pollutionfrom new factories. Similarly, runoff from chemicalfertilizers and pesticides used on commercialfarms may cross borders to damage health or

endanger lives. Governments and internationalagencies are cooperating to help Latin Americaaddress these challenges.

C h a p t e r 1 0 247

Deforestation

Water Pollution Bauxite mining runoff coversa cove in Jamaica.

Human-Environment Interaction How can Latin America overcome the challenges of industrialpollution?

Viewpoint

Nowhere is “biodiversity”—the term biologists coined todescribe our planet’s bountifulvariety of living things—moreapparent than in a tropical rainforest. Rain forests harbor atleast half of all species on Earth.However, deforestation severelythreatens these biologically richecosystems. Worldwide, roughly150 acres (61 ha) of rain forestare destroyed every minute. Asthe forests disappear, habitatsare lost and Earth’s biodiversitydwindles. The world’s largestremaining expanses of tropicalrain forest are in Brazil. But thefate of these forests, and theirastounding array of plants andanimals, is uncertain.

CASE STUDY on the Environment

Brazil’s Rain Forests:

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248 U n i t 3

Small enough to fit inthe palm of your hand,a golden lion tamarin(left) is a blaze of orange

against vivid rain-forest green.A tiny primate, the golden lionis one of four tamarin speciesthat live in Brazil’s Amazon andless-well-known Atlantic rainforests. All tamarins are endan-gered, but a successful captive-breeding program recentlybrought the golden liontamarin back from the brink ofextinction.The future of thou-sands of other plant and ani-mal species also is in jeopardyas pressures on Brazil’s rainforests intensify.

These forests boast therichest variety of plant life onthe planet. A few acres mightcontain 450 different speciesof trees.Thousands of othertypes of plants—orchids,bromeliads, ferns, and vines—grow on, among, or beneaththe trees.

Brazil’s rain forests rever-berate with the hum of count-less insect species.A single treemight harbor 650 kinds of bee-tles. Sharing the forest with

Brazilian farmers (below) clear afield in the Amazon rain forest.Fire (right) destroys large areasof forest.

The flowering four-o’clock containssubstances used totreat rheumatism.

these insect mul-titudes are snakes,such as anacondasand jararacas, andother animals, suchas poison dart frogs,fruit bats, jaguars,and spider monkeys.But this biodiversity israpidly disappearing.

Large areas of Brazil’s rainforests are burned or cut downby farmers and ranchers tomake way for cropland and cat-tle pastures. Loggers cut thefine hardwoods and exportthem for a profit. Growingcities, new roads, and industriesencroach on the forests. Eachyear hundreds, perhaps thou-sands, of species are lost astheir habitats are destroyed.

Rain forest preservationists wantfuture generations to enjoyEarth’s biodiversity. They pointout that rain forest plants pro-vide us with many things:foods, such as bananas andBrazil nuts; medicines, such asquinine and muscle relaxants;and substances, such as dyesand waxes. Scientists have iden-tified only a fraction of rain for-est species. Could a cure forcancer or AIDS lurk in a plantthat has not yet been studied?

▼

Rain forest developers arguethat people living in or nearBrazil’s rain forests need tofeed their families. For many,farming or raising cattle inclear-cut areas is the only waythey can survive. Harvestingrain forest timber allowsworkers to lift their standardof living above the povertyline.With a growing popula-tion of more than 160 mil-lion, Brazil needs room forurban growth and industrialdevelopment. Some arguethat Brazil’s rain forestsbelong to Brazilians.Shouldn’t they manage theirforests as they see fit?

What’s Your Point of View?Only about 8 percent ofBrazil’s Atlantic rain forestremains. Do you think thisremnant is worth saving? Why or why not?

▼

Learning the SkillOutlining can be used as a

method of note taking andorganizing information. Thereare two types of outlines—informal and formal. An infor-mal outline is similar to takingnotes—you write words andphrases needed to remembermain ideas. A formal outline hasa standard format.

To make a formal outline,begin by thinking about bigideas and dividing them intounits of information. Give eachof these major ideas a heading—a word or phrase that will iden-tify the concept. Each major ideawill be followed by two or moresubtopics, or parts of main ideas.Include supporting details withineach subtopic.

To create a formal outline,follow these steps:

• Identify the general topic ofthe outline, and write thetopic as a question. Refer to the topic question as you work to be sure you are recording the mostimportant ideas.

• Write the main ideas thatanswer this question. Label these with Romannumerals.

• Write subtopics under eachmain idea. Label these withcapital letters.

• Write supporting details foreach subtopic. Label these

with Arabic numerals andlowercase letters.

Practicing the SkillStudy the incomplete outline

of Chapter 10, Section 2, above.The main ideas generally corre-spond to the section headings inthe chapter. Copy this outlineon a sheet of paper, and fill inthe missing information for Sec-tion 2 of Chapter 10.

When you have completedyour outline, answer the follow-ing questions:

1. What are the most impor-tant topics in Chapter 10,Section 2?

2. What are the four mainsubtopics under the heading“Regional and InternationalIssues”?

3. What are two situations inwhich an outline such as thismight be useful?

4. In addition to being useful to readers, how would anoutline help writers?

250 U n i t 3

Create an outline for Chapter 10,Section 1. Use the section headingsfor your main ideas. Remember toinclude at least two subtopics foreach main heading. When you havefinished, use your outline to identifythe main ideas of the section.

The Glencoe Skillbuilder Interactive Workbook,

Level 2 provides instruction andpractice in key social studies skills.

Topic as a question:?

I. Managing Rain ForestsA. Rain Forests

1. Location2. Brazil’s experience

a. Trans-Amazonian Highwayb. Indigenous peoples

3. World concerns4. Local challenges

B. Farms and Ranches Versus Forests1. Slash-and-burn farming2. Future land value

C. Planting for the Future1.2.

II.A. Overcrowded Cities

1. Shantytowns2.

B. Building a Better Life1. Rapid urbanization2.

III. Regional and International IssuesA.

1.2.

B. Population Growth and Migration1.2.

C.1.2.

D.1.2.

Creating an OutlineOutlining may be used as a starting point for a reader who

wants to understand and organize information. The readerbegins with the rough shape of the material and gradually fillsin the details in a logical manner.

SUMMARY & STUDY GUIDE

C h a p t e r 1 0 251

Key Points• Latin America’s economy is based on the export

of agricultural products.• A small group of wealthy families or businesses

owns a large percentage of the agriculturalland in Latin America.

• The economy of many Latin American countriesis linked to one or two cash crops.

• The maquiladora system, trade agreements, and international borrowing are attempts tospeed the industrialization of many Latin Amer-ican countries.

• Geographic and economic realities have pre-sented obstacles to developing transportationand communications in the region.

Organizing Your NotesUse a graphic organizer like theone below to summarize yournotes for this section.

Terms to Know• sustainable

development• deforestation• slash-and-burn• reforestation• shantytown

Key Points• A key challenge for the Latin American region

is sustainable development.• Damage to the Amazon rain forest has both

local and global consequences.• Slash-and-burn cultivation contributes to Latin

America’s environmental challenges.• Latin America’s urban environmental problems

are a result of rapid urbanization.• Solutions to the

region’s environ-mental concerns willcome through coop-eration among local,national, regional,and international governments andorganizations.

Organizing Your NotesCreate graphic organizers likethe one below for each of thefollowing topics: deforestation,population growth, and interna-tional issues.

Terms to Know• export• campesino• latifundia• minifundia• cash crop• developing

country• service industry• maquiladora• North American

Free Trade Agree-ment (NAFTA)

SECTION 1 Living in Latin America (pp. 237–241)

SECTION 2 People and Their Environment (pp. 242–247)

Agriculture Industry Trade and Interdependence Transportation and Communications

Living in Latin America

Deforestation

cause cause

effe

ct

effe

ct

Signing of NAFTA, 1992

2. Predicting Consequences How mightthe North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA) change migration patterns in LatinAmerica? What are the implications?

3. Identifying Cause and Effect Complete a diagram by giving examples of how rapidurbanization in Latin America affects hous-ing, employment, education, sanitation, andgovernment services.

Reviewing Key TermsExamine the sets of terms below. Then write a sentence explaining how each set is related.

a. export — cash cropb. latifundia — minifundiac. developing country — sustainable

developmentd. maquiladora — service industries — North

American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)e. deforestation — slash-and-burn —

reforestationf. shantytown — rapid urbanization

Reviewing FactsSECTION 1

1. What three cash crops supply muchof Latin America’s income?

2. How can dependence on a singlecrop affect a country’s economy?

3. How do unstable governmentsprevent industrial development?

4. What obstacles have slowed thedevelopment of Latin America’stransportation and communica-tions systems?

SECTION 25. What are the environmental eff-

ects of slash-and-burn cultivation?

6. Why do some people believe thatpreservation of the Amazon rainforest is a global concern?

7. How are Latin American countriesaddressing the problems resultingfrom rapid urbanization?

8. Why do border disputes slow theeconomic development of theLatin American region?

Critical Thinking1. Making Generalizations Has

the maquiladora system had apositive or a negative effect onMexico’s people? Explain.

Locating PlacesLatin America: Political Geography

Match the letters on the map with the places in Latin America. Write youranswers on a sheet of paper.

1. Panama2. Belém3. Brazil4. São Paulo

5. Santiago6. Bogotá7. Costa Rica8. Lima

9. Mexico10. Rio de Janeiro11. Mexico City

A

J

I

B

H

G

K

E

D

F

C

60°W80°W 40°W100°W120°W

40°S

20°N

20°S

0°

TROPIC OF CANCER

TROPIC OF CAPRICORN

EQUATOR

Azimuthal Equidistant projection

1,000

1,0000

0

mi.

km

N

ASSESSMENT & ACTIVITIES

252 U n i t 3

Rapid urbanization affects . . .

C h a p t e r X 253

Reread the title and x- and y-axis labelsof the graph to determine the informa-tion the graph shows. Notice that

Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama all fall short ofthe regional average. Tackle each answer choice oneby one, eliminating those that contain even one coun-try that has a lower rate than the regional average.

Self-Check Quiz Visit the Glencoe WorldGeography Web site at tx.geography.glencoe.comand click on Self-Check Quizzes—Chapter 10 toprepare for the Chapter Test.

Using the Regional AtlasRefer to the Regional Atlas on pages 182–185.

1. Region What do the economic activity andpopulation density maps suggest aboutwhere commercial farming occurs in LatinAmerica?

2. Location Compare the economic activityand population density maps. What industryprobably attracts settlers around Córdoba,Argentina?

Thinking Like a GeographerWhy do you think Latin American countries oftendepend on a single cash crop? As a geographer,what suggestions would you make to help gov-ernments make their agricultural output morevaried?

GeoJournalDescriptive Writing Review the data in yourGeoJournal. Then write a paragraph comparingthe ways Latin Americans in rural, urban, coastal,and highlands areas depend on or adapt to theirenvironment. Focus on specific human activities.

Problem-Solving ActivityProblem-Solution Proposal In Latin Americathousands of children spend most of their livesroaming the streets. Pick one Latin American citywith street children, and learn more about them:how they survive, where they come from, howthey spend their time, and where their familiesare. Then write a proposal in which you presentyour solution to the problem.

Technology ActivityUsing the Internet for Research

Search the Internet for photographs showing thedestruction of a rain forest in Latin America. Nar-row your search by using words such as Amazonrain forest or Brazil. Print the photographs, writecaptions to explain what is happening, and displayyour work on the classroom bulletin board. If pos-sible, include charts, graphs, and maps.

Choose the best answer for the followingmultiple-choice question. If you have troubleanswering the question, use the process ofelimination to narrow your choices.

1. On average, 34 of every 1,000 LatinAmericans owned computers in 1998.Which countries had higher rates ofcomputer ownership than the regionalaverage?

A Nicaragua and PanamaB Argentina, Mexico, Panama, and UruguayC Argentina, Mexico, and UruguayD Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama

C h a p t e r 1 0 253

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Computer Ownership per 1,000People in Selected Countries

Co

mp

ute

rs p

er 1

,000

peo

ple

Argentina0

90

70

50

30

10

100

80

60

40

20

Guatemala Mexico Nicaragua Panama Uruguay

Countries