Natural resources and economic development in Central America : a regional environmental profile

With few mineral and petroleum resources, the region is heavily dependent upon renewable natural resources for generation of income in key productive sectors such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy generation, and tourism, as well as to supply the raw materials for most manufacturing and processing industries. As a consequence, the depletion rates of forests, soils, fisheries, and other crucial resources far exceed renewal rates, and secondary problems such as soil erosion, sedimentation, and water pollution have reached critical levels in many areas. Rather than focusing on the status of natural resources in each country, this book seeks to identify natural resource issues that transcend national borders, economic circumstances, and social ideologies. The environmental consequences of current socioeconomic trends in the region are analyzed, along with land use and natural resource exploitation patterns; general problems are illustrated with specific examples from individual countries. The evidence suggests that all seven nations in the region are experiencing direct financial losses and have already sacrificed substantial future economic opportunities as a result of previous careless management of natural resources. In conclusion, the book identifies opportunities for future economic development and demonstrates how closely these prospects are linked to improved management of the region"s natural resource base. Recommendations specifically tailored for A.I.D. programs are presented. Includes index.