Deforestation and Development in Brazil

 

    The web map outlines the areas that are deforested near the Mendes reserve in Acre, Brazil from 1990 to 2020.


Sustainable Development on the Chico Mendes Reserve

I would say that sustainable development requires three main parts: economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection. Economic growth aims to increase prosperity and promote sustainable development, while social inclusion ensures that all individuals and communities can participate in and benefit from development. Environmental protection is crucial for ensuring that development is sustainable and does not harm the planet's fragile ecosystems. Sustainable development plays a critical role in the global sphere as the world faces challenges such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, and social inequality. These challenges are interconnected, and sustainable development offers a holistic approach to addressing them. It recognizes that economic growth cannot come at the expense of the environment or society and that development must be inclusive, equitable, and sustainable.

The web map above outlines the areas that have been deforested near the Mendes reserve in Acre, Brazil from 1990 to 2020. The map shows a significant loss of forest cover in the area, particularly around the reserve's edges. This loss of forest cover is likely due to agricultural expansion, which is driven by economic growth and development in the region. I would argue that the processes happening in the area are both beneficial and detrimental. On the one hand, agricultural expansion can create economic opportunities and promote economic growth in the region. On the other hand, it can lead to deforestation, soil degradation, and loss of biodiversity, all of which are detrimental to the environment and can harm local communities.

This is an example of political ecology because it demonstrates the interconnectedness of environmental, economic, and social processes. Deforestation in the area is driven by economic development and growth, but it also has social and environmental implications. It affects local communities' livelihoods and can harm the region's natural systems, leading to long-term environmental degradation.

The Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve is an example of sustainable development in action, as it promotes economic growth through sustainable resource use and supports local communities' social and economic development while protecting the environment. However, the reserve faces challenges such as deforestation, illegal logging, and conflicts with farmers and ranchers in the region. A recent article in Mongabay highlights these challenges and discusses efforts to address them through improved governance and community engagement (https://news.mongabay.com/2020/01/conflict-in-the-chico-mendes-reserve-threaten-this-pioneering-amazonian-project/).


Semester Project Thoughts

I am thinking about focusing my project on the ongoing deforestation and habitat destruction in Guatemala. This Central American country is a biodiversity hotspot renowned for its beautiful tropical rainforests and cloud forests. A personal connection I have with someone from the region also makes me interested to learn more.

I have two anxieties about the project; one is that I am afraid of the word count. I think 3000 words is potentially excessive and will lead to a longer but not necessarily better or more complete project. It will most likely inevitably lead to very many students in the class of Geography of the environment and development padding out their sentences like I have just done. The second anxiety I have is in making a web map. I don't know how I will find the appropriate data to back up my map, and I am not confident in my ability to add the appropriate things and make it look pretty.

                                                            Written by: Evan Smith

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