By Fernando Rey
Latin American nations continue on their search for
economic development, some with more success than others, but with a
common burden of increasing poverty.
The countries in the region share many
concerns with regard to the environment. Traditionally, Latin America has
provided the raw materials required for industrialization to more developed
countries. As a result, industrial development in Latin American lags far
behind. While the resources – whether
mined, cut from forests, or stripped from the sea – leave, the resulting
environmental destruction remains. The impacts fall heavily on the most
unprotected sectors of the population.
Water pollution in Latin America can be traced to a few main causes: untreated
sewage, industrial waste, modern agriculture, petroleum and mineral mining,
and giant coastal tourism
complexes. In general, Latin American states do not monitor or
control industrial polluters. Government agencies lack tools and capacity,
while the affected populations lack access to government. The role of civil
society organizations, such as Waterkeeper Alliance, is increasingly important
in Latin America.
Despite many common elements, Latin America is a huge, diverse region made
up of 21 countries. It is helpful to distinguish four
eco-regions of Latin America: Mesoamerica, the Caribbean, the Andes and
the Amazon.
Mesoamerica, also known as Central America, is known for its humid, tropical
forests, its mountains and volcanoes, small rivers and lakes, mangroves,
lagoons and coral reefs. Some of these ecosystems are well-preserved, but
most experience advanced states of intervention.
East lie the Caribbean islands, the major and minor Antilles. They are
a true paradise on earth, enjoying the fruits of a permanent tropical climate.
At the same time they are exposed to the destructive storms and hurricanes
that whip them every year.
The Andean region is known for its snow-capped volcanoes and rich cultural
diversity. Drilling for oil and minerals (coal, nickel, copper, and gold)
has contributed to the pollution of important ecosystems in the Andes.
Still, one of the most serious environmental impacts is from global warming
which is melting the snow-caps in the region and flooding the wetlands – sources
of the rivers that feed into the Amazon basin.
The Amazon is perhaps the most critical, vulnerable, and least-understood
eco-region in Latin America. This huge rainforest occupies a third of the
subcontinent, and shelters the richest animal and plant biodiversity in
the world. Together with the oceans, the Amazon plays one of the most important
roles on the planet, not only as a regulator of the global climate, but
as a producer of oxygen and as a carbon sink. Unfortunately, the Amazon
basin also has oil. Drilling and extraction is devastating sensitive ecosystems
and populations.
There are indigenous communities living in all of the eco-regions of Latin
America. Many of these traditional societies conserve their ancestral practices
of sustainable use of the natural resources. However, extractive industries
and unsustainable agricultural activities have promoted waves of migration
that displace these traditional people and replace their practices. Some
migration is direct government-sponsored colonization. Other migration
is the result of people leaving over-populated centers. But the so-called "settling" of
natural areas has had a profound negative impact on the natural and human
environment.
Latin American civil society lacks non-governmental organizations that
can educate people about their rights and responsibilities regarding the
environment. It needs more advocates to represent those rights and enforce
the existing regulations. Waterkeeper programs in Latin America confront
polluters and demand that government protect the right of citizens to clean
water. This kind of advocacy is the best way to reverse environmental deterioration
and improve the quality of life for all Latin Americans.
Fernando Rey is a board member for Cartagena Baykeeper and for Waterkeeper
Alliance with more than twenty years of professional experience in water
quality management.
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