Synoptic: Bridging the Development Gap Central America

Central America: The key ideas Development…. Inequality… Opportunities/Threats/Barriers… Players…. Actions…. Futures….

Central America: Factors that affect development

Central America: Geographical overview Physical factors: - Relief - Climate - Natural resources (water / energy) Human factors: - Population density - HDI - Colonial legacy and political allies / groupings - Development

Physical factors: Relief and tectonics Much of C.America’s interior is highland, but wet and fertile > Tectonics / fold mountains / volcanic activity > High population density C.American coast is low but wet > Lower population density Easy to connect the coast to interior > Enables development > Easy to create/use land links, canals etc..

Physical factors: Tectonic hazards

Physical factors: Hurricanes

Physical factors: Climate

Physical factors: Energy resources https://www.eia.gov/beta/international/

Physical factors: Water resources http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/scarcity.shtml

Human factors: Population density What is the link between climate, population density and natural hazards in the region? How does it relate to development?

Human factors: Development contrasts (HDI) http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries

Human factors: Colonial legacy

Human factors: Political allegiances US involvement in canal building: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2T7CL9wqyM

Human factors: Role of tourism Eco-tourism in Costa Rica http://www.ecotourism.org/costa-rica http://www.turtlebeachlodge.com/about-turtle-beach-lodge-tortuguero-costa-rica-hotel

Themes/ideas: Sustainable development Social needs Environmental safeguarding/ improvement Economic needs

Development: Rostow’s model

Development: Friedman

Development: Myrdal and cumulative causation

Topic map of overall theme Physical / human features Issues Development Gap: Central America Players Futures Actions

Topic map of overall theme Water Climate Urbanisation Development Features/ Characteristics Physical features Volcanoes Human features Population Energy IGOs TNCs Development Gap: Central America Issues Global Players Futures Local Actions Regional Trade blocs Projects Aid

How can I be “synoptic”? Use ‘new’ information from research Parallel examples How can I be “synoptic”? Links to areas of AS and A2 course Use of broad geographical themes

Central America Suez Statistics Galapagos Use ‘new’ information from research Ecotourism St Lucia Kenya Parallel examples Updates Mercosur/Caricom Central America Inequality Going Global Use of broad geographical themes Geopolitics Links to areas of AS and A2 course Water Conflict Sustainability Climate change Globalisation Energy Security Biodiversity Superpowers Tech Fix

Parallel examples Regional inequalities and conflicts (with link to weak governance): > Kenya Ecotourism > Kenya safari and coastal tourism Trade blocs > Mercosur > Caricom Major infrastructure projects (top-down) > Kenyan railway > Suez canal > Trans-Amazon highway? (Brazil)

Further research / updates UN / World Bank classification of countries as HIC, MIC, LIC etc.. www.un.org/en/development/desa/policy/wesp/wesp_current/2012country_class.pdf www.data.worldbank.org UN Millennium Development Goals: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/ http://www.mdgtrack.org/index.php?tab=c&c=CRI World Bank data on the countries: http://data.worldbank.org/country/costa-rica CIA world factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cs.html

Further research / updates Hazard profile of region: http://www.preventionweb.net/countries/nic/data/ EMDAT country profiles: http://www.emdat.be/country_profile/index.html Panama canal expansion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB3tfM7ISgY Nicaragua canal protests: http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/police-block-farmers-protest-against-planned-nicaragua-canal/ Suez canal: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-33800076 http://www.history.com/news/9-fascinating-facts-about-the-suez-canal Mesoamerica hotspot: http://www.cepf.net/where_we_work/regions/central_america/mesoamerica/Pages/default.aspx

Further research / updates Chinese investment: New railway in Kenya http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27368877 http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/interactive/2013/apr/29/china-commits-billions-aid-africa-interactive Role of TNCs in development (Dole/Fyffes + banana plantation issues): http://www.fao.org/economic/est/est-commodities/bananas/bananafacts/en/#.WQO9pDvYnzI http://www.fao.org/docrep/019/i3746e/i3746e.pdf Imports/exports: http://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/visualize/tree_map/hs92/export/cri/all/show/2015/ Pacific Alliance (trade bloc): https://alianzapacifico.net/en/ http://www.worldfinance.com/inward-investment/latin-americas-pacific-alliance-trade-bloc-is-one-to-watch

Further research / notable gaps Appropriate technology/ tech fix/ electricity production http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/costa-rica-renewable-energy-electricity-production-2016-climate-change-fossil-fuels-global-warming-a7505341.html https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/30/truth-behind-costa-rica-renewable-energy-reservoirs-climate-change Sustainable development in Costa Rica: http://www.earthshare.org/2015/05/cr.html Eco-tourism in Costa Rica http://www.ecotourism.org/costa-rica http://www.turtlebeachlodge.com/about-turtle-beach-lodge-tortuguero-costa-rica-hotel http://skyadventures.travel/sustainability/ Tourism and link to development/environment: - Kenya (safari and marine) e.g. Masai Mara (safari) and coastal tourism http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/dec/12/tourism-turtles-kenya-population http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/east_african_coast/ - Ngorongoro: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/39 http://www.craterlodge.com Galapagos and invasive marine species: https://www.galapagos.org/conservation/conservation/conservationchallenges/invasive-species/

Some ideas for questions Explain the variations in current levels of development in Central America. Explain how the physical, economic and political factors of the region have limited development to date. Outline how physical and human factors have promoted development in Panama and Costa Rica. Examine the factors that have led to uneven levels of development in Central America. Account for the recent changes in levels of development in the Central American region. Evaluate the contribution that globalisation has made to development and quality of life in Central America. To what extent will trade continue to be important in the development of the Central American region? …continued on the next slide.

Some more ideas for questions To what extent has conflict in Central America been a threat to the stability and continuing development of the region? Assess the role of a range of Players in the past and future development of the Central American region. Assess the sustainability of the four projects in Fig. 11. Evaluate the costs and benefits of the four projects in Fig. 11. Examine the roles that a range of Players and Actions could play in helping Central American countries to develop further. Assess the sustainability of continued development in Central America. Evaluate the social, economic and environmental threats to further development in Central America.