REGIONAL SLIDES

Santa Cruz, Bolivia Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras Gulf of Guayaquil, Ecuador Iguazú, South America Rondonia, Brazil Valdivian, Chile Brasilia, Brazil Santiago, Chile Yungay, Peru Escondida, Chile LATIN AMERICA

Latin America is very rich in water resources; the region contains four of the world’s 25 largest rivers—the Amazon, Paraná, Orinoco and Magdalena 20%of global runoff—the renewable water source that constitutes fresh water supply—comes from the Amazon Basin The highest absolute forest loss is taking place in Brazil LATIN AMERICA 6 of the 9 hotspots rich in bird biodiversity are in Latin America – richest is the Andes (2 139 species) and Amazon basin is second (961 species) Mining has had a long history in Chile and Peru and now accounts for more than 6% of each country's GDP Sources: GEO 2006; Mines and Communities 2005

Conversion of forests to farmlands in Santa Cruz, Bolivia 1975: Forested landscape 2003: Large corporate agricultural fields transform the landscape

Shrimp farms replacing mangroves in Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras : shrimp farms and ponds have mushroomed, carpeting the landscape around the Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras, in blocks of blue and black shapes

Changes in Ecuador’s largest sea port: Gulf of Guayaquil, Ecuador Ecuador’s primary city and largest sea port : Loss of mangrove and growth of aquaculture can be seen

Visible changes in Iguazú National Park South America 1973: Forest cover is extensive throughout the region 2003: Extensive deforestation in Paraguay

Changes in tropical forests of Rondonia Brazil Healthy natural vegetation “Fishbone” pattern on the landscape indicate agriculture fields Agriculture continues to replace forest cover

Regular monitoring of Amazon Rainforest Almost one fifth of the Amazon rainforest has been cleared. 26,000 sq km August 2003 to August 2004 alone; 6% higher than the previous 12 months Deforestation was worst in the state of Mato Grosso

Forest plantation effort decreases native forests in Valdivian, Chile Small scale logging of native forests, livestock and agriculture have been replaced by large scale timber production : Show changes in land use during the last 30 years

Unplanned growth of Brasilia, Brazil : Unplanned urban development resulted in a collection of urban “satellites” around the city

Home to more than one-third of country’s population – Santiago, Chile The explosive growth of Santiago urban area

City buried by an avalanche Yungay, Peru Earthquake triggers Avalanche, buries a city Scars of the events are still visible today

Earthquake ruined an entire city Yungay, Peru 1970: Earthquake wipes out Yungay, claims 18,000 lives

Escondida – world’s largest copper mine Chile 1989: Shows impoundments (white patch in the lower left corner 2003: Shows growth and expansion of the mine

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