Situation and trends of renewable natural resources of Latin America and the Caribbean

As part of an effort to identify the training needs of resource managers in the region, this report provides a geographic and demographic profile of the area and reviews the current and projected availability and use of the region"s natural resources. Related energy and health problems are also considered, as are some of the causes of prevailing resource mismanagement. By 2000, the region"s population will probably grow from 350 million (1977) to over 600 million, with an average density of 30 persons per square km. Land use is currently distributed as follows: 9% arable land, 26% natural pastures, 49% forests, and 16% unused or occupied by infrastructure. Soils are poor, and urban expansion, pollution, loss of fertility, natural disasters, erosion, and salinization are contributing to land loss or deterioration. The expansion of stockraising and farming is destroying forests; by 2000, only 20-33% of the land area is expected to remain forested. Water is abundant but unequally distributed; only 3% of water resources and 8% of hydroelectric potential are being used. Pollution of fresh and sea water is a serious problem which is expected to worsen, as is air pollution in industrial urban areas. Native flora have been underutilized despite their potential as a source of medicine, drugs, rubber, resins, ornamentation, and recreation. Native fauna remain an important source of protein for rural dwellers. Extinction of plant and animal species is a critical problem. Although protected areas now cover 1.63% of the land area and are expected to double in size by 2000, they provide only minimal protection for endangered species. Mineral resources are abundant, but extraction efforts are likely to cause environmental harm. Growing energy demands will increasingly be met by hydroelectric and nuclear power, and non-conventional sources (i.e., geothermal and biomass) will gradually replace petroleum. All these environmental problems, it is emphasized, are rooted in the poverty caused by social injustice and the region"s domination by other continents. Appended is a 231-item bibliography (1941-80) in Spanish and English.