Latin Americas ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Presentation Graphic Organizers Activities

Latin America’s ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Presentation, Graphic Organizers, & Activities

STANDARDS: SS 6 G 2 Explain the impact of environmental issues in Latin America. a. Explain the causes and effects of air pollution in Mexico City, Mexico. b. Explain the environmental issue of destruction of the rain forest in Brazil. © Brain Wrinkles

Latin America’s Environmental Issues CLOZE Notes 1 AIR POLLUTION IN MEXICO CITY Mexico City • Mexico City is the ______________ in the world with nearly 20 million people living there. • The high population has created a ______________ problem in the city. • In fact, Mexico City is considered to be one of the ______________ in the world. Causes • Mexico City’s air pollution is caused by emissions from ______________. • The ______________ are like walls that surround the city and trap in polluted air (called smog). • Because there is not enough wind to blow the smog over the mountains, it continues to ______________. Effects • People living in the city breathe in toxic gases and chemicals daily, which can lead to ______________. • Mexico City’s high level of pollution can also ______________ and cause heart problems. Solutions • To reduce air pollution, the city promotes ______________ (buses, subway, bikes, etc. ). • The city is also testing buses that run on ______________. • The Mexican government is starting to limit how often you can drive your car and has adopted stricter ______________. © Brain Wrinkles

Latin America’s Environmental Issues CLOZE Notes 2 DESTRUCTION OF THE AMAZON RAINFOREST Amazon Rainforest • The Amazon rainforest is ______________ and is the largest rainforest left in the world today. • It’s home to a ______________ , trees, insects, birds, and animals. • The Amazon rainforest produces ______________ and is nicknamed the “lungs of the earth”. Causes • In the 1950 s, the Brazilian government began building a ______________ , which opened the rainforest up to loggers. • Huge parts of the rain forest are being ______________ using the “slash and burn” farming method. • Cattle ranching and ______________ have also become prevalent in this area. Effects • Due to deforestation of the rainforest, ______________ have lost their habitats, which has caused many to become endangered and even extinct. • The loss of trees has also increased carbon dioxide, which is a gas that contributes to climate change and ______________. Solutions • The government is working to fix the deforestation problem by setting aside ______________. • Brazil’s government has also set up programs to ______________ where old ones have been cut down. © Brain Wrinkles

Latin America’s Environmental Issues Air pollution in Mexico City and the destruction of the rain forest in Brazil © Brain Wrinkles

Air Pollution in Mexico City © Brain Wrinkles

Mexico City • Mexico City is the second-most populated city in the world with nearly 20 million people living there. • The high population has created a serious air pollution problem in the city. • In fact, Mexico City is considered to be one of the most polluted cities in the world. © Brain Wrinkles

© Brain Wrinkles

© Brain Wrinkles

Causes • Mexico City’s air pollution is caused by emissions from automobiles and factories. • The Sierra Madre mountains are like walls that surround the city and trap in polluted air (called smog). • Because there is not enough wind to blow the smog over the mountains, it continues to accumulate day after © Brain Wrinkles

© Brain Wrinkles

© Brain Wrinkles

Effects • People living in the city breathe in toxic gases and chemicals daily, which can lead to respiratory illnesses. • Mexico City’s high level of pollution can also harm eyes and cause heart problems. © Brain Wrinkles

© Brain Wrinkles

Solutions • To reduce air pollution, the city promotes public transportation (buses, subway, bikes, etc. ). • The city is also testing buses that run on cleaner burning fuels. • The Mexican government is starting to limit how often you can drive your car and has adopted stricter emission inspections. © Brain Wrinkles

Destruction of the Amazon Rainforest © Brain Wrinkles

Amazon Rainforest • The Amazon rainforest is located in Brazil and is the largest rainforest left in the world today. • It’s home to a huge variety of plants, trees, insects, birds, and animals. • The Amazon rainforest produces onethird of the earth’s oxygen and is nicknamed the “lungs of the earth”. © Brain Wrinkles

© Brain Wrinkles

Causes • In the 1950 s, the Brazilian government began building a major highway system, which opened the rainforest up to loggers. • Huge parts of the rain forest are being cut down to plant crops using the “slash and burn” farming method. • Cattle ranching and mining have also become prevalent in this area. © Brain Wrinkles

© Brain Wrinkles

© Brain Wrinkles

© Brain Wrinkles

© Brain Wrinkles

Effects • Due to deforestation of the rainforest, millions of plants and animals have lost their habitats, which has caused many to become endangered and even extinct. • The loss of trees has also increased carbon dioxide, which is a gas that contributes to climate change and global warming. © Brain Wrinkles

© Brain Wrinkles

© Brain Wrinkles

Solutions • The government is working to fix the deforestation problem by setting aside large protected areas. • Brazil’s government has also set up programs to plant new trees where old ones have been cut down. © Brain Wrinkles

Latin America’s Environmental Issues Directions: Complete the chart below with information that you learned during the presentation. If time allows, color your illustrations. Causes Air Pollution in Mexico City Destruction of the rainforest in Brazil © Brain Wrinkles Effects Illustration