South America’s natural wealth is both a blessing and a challenge. Rich forests, rivers, and minerals have fueled economic growth, but unsustainable exploitation has created serious environmental problems.

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🌳 11.1 Deforestation of the Amazon

• Cause: Logging, cattle ranching, soybean farming, road building, mining.
• Impact:
  • Biodiversity loss (jaguars, macaws, medicinal plants).
  • Reduced carbon sink capacity → accelerates global warming.
  • Threatens indigenous tribes.
• Case Study: Brazil’s Amazon deforestation rates peaked in early 2000s; though reduced later, recent years have seen renewed pressure.

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🏜️ 11.2 Desertification & Grassland Degradation

• Gran Chaco (Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia): Expanding agriculture & cattle ranching → loss of dry forests.
• Pampas: Over-farming, mechanization → soil erosion.
• Patagonia: Overgrazing → desertification.
• Global Link: Part of UNCCD (UN Convention to Combat Desertification) discussions.

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💧 11.3 Water Issues

• La Plata Basin disputes: Sharing of Paraná, Paraguay, Uruguay rivers among Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay.
• Lake Poopó (Bolivia): Shrinking due to climate change + irrigation diversion.
• Hydropower vs Environment:
  • Itaipu & Guri dams → displacement of people, ecological disruption.

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🌊 11.4 Climate Change & Glacial Melt

• Andes Glaciers: Rapid retreat due to rising temperatures.
• Impact:
  • Water shortages for cities & farms (glaciers = water source).
  • Increased flood & landslide risk.
  • Affects hydropower generation.

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🦜 11.5 Biodiversity Loss

• Amazon Rainforest: 10% of global species at risk due to habitat loss.
• Atlantic Forest: Reduced to <10% of original size.
• Pantanal Wetlands: Fires and droughts killing jaguars, birds, aquatic life.
• Unique Islands: Galápagos ecosystems threatened by invasive species & tourism.

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🔥 11.6 Forest Fires

• Amazon → annual dry-season fires (often man-made for land clearance).
• Pantanal → severe fires in recent years, killing millions of animals.
• Linked to global warming & deforestation.

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🛢️ 11.7 Pollution & Oil Extraction

• Venezuela: Oil spills in Lake Maracaibo.
• Brazil: Offshore oil exploration risks marine ecology.
• Mining Pollution: Gold mining → mercury contamination in rivers (Peru, Guyana).

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🌐 11.8 International Environmental Issues

• Amazon Rainforest = Global Commons → debate over sovereignty vs international responsibility.
• El Niño & La Niña: Climate events affecting agriculture, fisheries, and weather globally.
• Global Conventions:
  • Amazon countries part of Paris Climate Agreement.
  • Ramsar Convention → Pantanal Wetlands protection.

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📌 UPSC Key Pointers

1. Amazon deforestation → biodiversity loss + climate change.
2. Gran Chaco & Pampas → desertification due to over-farming.
3. Lake Poopó (Bolivia) → disappeared due to climate change & diversion.
4. Andes glaciers melting → water crisis.
5. Pantanal Wetlands → world’s largest tropical wetlands under threat.
6. Mining → mercury contamination in rivers.
7. South America in global debates → Amazon = global climate regulator.