Overview: Tropical rainforests are a type of broadleaf evergreen forest found near the equator, where the
climate is warm and wet all year. The Amazon rainforest is the largest tropical rainforest in the world. In this
DBQ you will weigh the choices and tradeoffs in protecting the Brazilian Rainforest. You will explore the
Economic, Environmental, and Social questions facing the Brazilian Government. This DBQ asks should the
Brazilian government develop the Amazon Rainforest?
Document i:
Carbon-Oxygen Cycle
Document 2:
Brazil's Gross Domestic Product
Document 3:
Brazil's Agriculture Production
Document 4:
Facts about the Amazon Rainforest
Document 5:
Causes Deforestation
Document 6:
What did Brazil export in 2012?
Document 7:
An Indigenous Perspective
Document 8:
Sustainable Management of the Amazon
Rainforest
Document 9
Positives and Negatives of Human
Intervention in the Amazon Rainforest
Background Essav
A
bustling
steel
Amazon Rainforest DBQ
mill
in
farmers, cattle ranchers, and loggers. In
China...farmland newly cleared from the
addition, the rainforest is of great interest
jungle in Brazit...a fishing boat unloading
to environmental groups, which are
in Norway. Together, these images paint
organizations that work to protect the
a picture of economic development and
technological progress.
But look again. The advances that
have brought new prosperity to much of
the globe have come at a price. The
smokestacks of the steel mill emit
pollutants that spread to other countries.
The farm has been carved out of a
rainforest that had served as a home for
thousands of plants and animals. The
boat and others like it threaten fish
populations in the
Atlantic.
Humanity has
natural world.
assumed a greater and
greater role in shaping
the
planet's
environment
as
people have used the
planet's
resources.
Each of these groups has its own
ideas about the Amazon rainforest. These
differences have led to land use conflict,
or arguments about the best ways to use
the land.
Scientists use the term
biodiversity to describe the variety of
plant and animal species that live in a
particular area. The great biodiversity of
rainforests attracts scientists of different
specialties
who come to
'ÿ study the flora
and fauna
there.
Other
groups
of
people have
different
We have also come to
reasons
recognize that the
continued expansion
of human activity has
spawned a new set of problems that
extends beyond national borders. While
scientists note that the earth tends to be
resilient and can bounce back from some
of the stresses it takes, the magnitude of
humanity's impact today is taking its toll.
The Amazon rainforest is an
enormous tropical rainforest in South
coming to the
America. The rainforest seems timeless,
yet it is changing rapidly. For thousands of
years, small groups of indigenous peoples
have made their home here, making a
living by hunting and gathering. In more
recent times, other groups have come to
the rainforest, including rubber tappers,
for
rainforest.
Some people
come to clear land for farming and
ranching, a process that results in
deforestation, or the removal of trees
from large areas. Other people are more
interested in sustainable development,
which means finding ways to use the
resources of the rainforest without
destroying it.
The question in this Mini-Q is
similar to the ones Brazilians will face for
years to come. Examine the documents
that follow and decide: Should the
Brazilian Government Develop the
Amazon Rainforest ?
Background Essay Question
Amazon Rainforest MinioQ
1. What are 3 types of economic development offered in the introduction?
°
Using the reading and your background knowledge, what are the possible pros and cons of this
economic development7
Pros
Cons
3, How have humans taken on a greater role in shaping the environment?
4, Who are the different groups that use the Amazon Rainforest and how do they use it?
5. What is the difference between deforestation and sustainable development?
6. Define or describe these terms:
Economic development:
Tropical rainforest:
Indigenous People:
Land Use Conflict:
Biodiversity:
Deforestation:
Sustainable Development:
Timeline
1498: Christopher Columbus enters the Orinoco River estuary in present day Venezuela
1822: Brazil proclaims its independence under Dom Pedro I of Brazil.
188;0-1915: Rubber boom sucks tens of thousands of immigrants into the Amazon, mostly from the drought-stricken
northeast of Brazil. (White Gold)
1867: Amazon River opened to international shipping.
1942: Brazil enters World War II. Demand is high for Amazon rubber. Brazil launches the ill-fated "Rubber Soldiers" program.
2007: The Brazilian government announces the Programa de Aceleraqÿo do Crescimento to construct dams on the Madeira,
Xingfl, and Tapaj6s rivers, to go ahead with the polemical highway BR-319, and to expand petroleum and natural gas
extraction in the Solimÿes basin.
2010: Drought hits Amazon Rainforest
Document 1
Source: Oxygen Cycle Diagram, http://edudiagrams.blogspot.com/2011/05/oxygen-cycle.html
1, Why are 02 and CO2 centrally located in the diagram above7
2. Which group turns Oxygen into Carbon dioxide? Which group turns Carbon dioxide into Oxygen?
3. What is the main idea of this document?
4. How could this document be used to answer the question: Should the Brazilian Government
Develop the Amazon Rainforest?
YES, the Brazilian Government should develop NO, the Brazilian Government shouldn't
the rainforest,
develop the rainforest.
**one or both sides of this chart may filled in depending on the document**
Document 2
Source: CIA World Factbook.
Document Note: This entry shows where production takes place in an economy. The distribution gives
the percentage contribution of agriculture, industry, and services to total GDP, and will total 100 percent
of GDP if the data are complete. Agriculture includes farming, fishing, and forestry. Industry includes
mining, manufacturing, energy production, and construction. Services cover government activities,
communications, transportation, finance, and all other private economic activities that do not produce
material goods.
Braz[l's GDP Composition bv Sector
6%
27%
[] Agriculture
67%
ÿ Industry
Services
.
According to the pie chart, what makes up the majority of Brazil's GDP?
2. What percentage of Brazil's GDP is farming?
3, What is the main idea of this document?
,
How could this document be used to answer the question: Should the Brazilian Government
Develop the Amazon Rain forest?
YES, the Brazilian Government should develop NO, the Brazilian Government shouldn't
the rainforest,
develop the rainforest.
Document 3
Source: http ://www.kidscornerbrazil.org/content/economy.php
Document Note:
There are 347,490 square miles of farmable land in Brazil, and that's without counting one single inch of
the 350 million of the Amazon forest.
Brazil is the world's largest coffee, sugar, and alcohol producer, and second in soybean and corn, apart from
being the third largest fruit producer. Brazil is the world's second largest producer of beef (6.6 million
tons/year), and has the largest commercial herd, numbering some 170 million heads.
It is the second largest world producer of poultry, with 5.5 million tons/year and figures among the ten
largest in the swine segment, with 1.9 million tons/year. The production of sheep, goats, and buffaloes is
equally significant.
Brazil's Agricultural Production
,
,
.
On the Agricultural
Production Map of Brazil,
circle where the Amazon
Rainforest is located,
Is all of Brazil's farmland in
the Amazon Rainforest?
Explain,
What is the main idea of this
document?
,
YES, the Brazilian Government should develop NO, the Brazilian Government shouldn't
the rainforest,
develop the rainforest.
Document 4
Source: Facts about the Rainforest - Article from the Tropical Rain Forest Alliance
The Rain forest Alliance is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of tropical
forests. Their mission is to work to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming
land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior.
Tropical rainforests are integral to a healthy planet and its ability to support life. They regulate
earth's climate, are a deterrent against the greenhouse effect, contain edible food crops and other
resources and prevent impoverishment and famine. Regardless of their importance, deforestation
continues--a football field-sized area of rainforest is lost every second of every day.
Even though the tropical rainforests are in another part of the hemisphere, they play a major role in
our everyday lives here in the United States. Rainforests regulate rainfall on a global level which in
turn affects global climate. They are the single greatest terrestrial source of oxygen. Rainforests also
bring us food, herbs, pharmaceuticals, and many other items that are commonplace in our daily life.
Facts: Did you know,,,
. As food crops, we use only 7,000 of about 75,000 known edible plants.
* 500,000 trees are cut every hour in tropical rainforests.
* We lose 20,000 to 100,000 species ayear,
. An area the size of a football field is being destroyed every second!
We owe the discovery of many food crops from the tropical rainforests: Lemons, limes, oranges,
pineapples, mangoes, avocados, guavas, papayas, passion fruits, bananas, cinnamon, cloves,
vanilla, palm oil, rubber, annatto (natural red food coloring), cashews, brazil nuts, macadamia
nuts, hearts of palm, essential oils, coffee beans and can you ever imagine living without...
CHOCOLATE?!
1. According to the Tropical Rain Forest Alliance, why are rainforests so important?
,
How could this document be used to answer the question: Should the Brazilian Government
Develop the Amazon Rain forest?
YES, the Brazilian Government should develop NO, the Brazilian Government shouldn't
the rainforest,
develop the rainforest.
**one or both sides of this chart may filled in depending on the document**
Document 5
Source: Destruction of the Rainforest in Brazil, mongobay.com.
Document Note: "Other" includes fires, mining, urbanization, road construction, dams
Causes of Deforestation in the BraziUian Amazon,
2000-2005
Logging Other
3% 2%
Large Scale Agriculture
10%
1. What are the three leading causes of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon and their percent?
,
How could this document be used to answer the question: Should the Brazilian Government
Develop the Amazon Rain forest?
YES, the Brazilian Government should develop NO, the Brazilian Government shouldn't
the rainforest,
develop the rainforest,
**one or both sides of this chart may filled in depending on the document**
Document 6
Source: The Atlas of Economic Complexity. The Center for International Development at Harvard
University, ÿ!/atlas,media,mit, edu/explore/tree map_/hs/export/bra/all/show/2010/
What did Brazil export in 20127
2468 USD
Foodstuffs T oo,po ot oo
Vegetable Products
Animal & Animal
Products
1, What are Brazil's three largest exports and their percent?
2, Using the information from documents 5 & 6, discuss the relationship between exports and causes
of deforestation,
,
How could this document be used to answer the question: Should the Brazilian Government
Develop the Amazon Rain forest?
YES, the Brazilian Government should develop NO, the Brazilian Government shouldn't
the rainforest,
develop the rainforest,
Document 7
Source: "Avitar is Real'Says Tribal People. Survival International USA. Posted Jan 28, 2010.
Davi Kopenawa Yanomami is a shaman and Portuguese-speaking spokesperson of the Yanomami Indians in
Brazil. He came to international prominence for this advocacy regarding tribal issues and Amazon
Rain forest conservation when the tribal rights organization Survival International invited him to accept the
Right Livelihood Award on its behalf in 1989.
Davi Kopenawa Yanomami, known as the Dalai Lama of the Rainforest, said, "My Yanomami
people have always lived in peace with the forest. Our ancestors taught us to understand our land and
animals. We have used this knowledge carefully, for our existence depends on it. My Yanomami land was
invaded by miners. A fifth of our people died from diseases we had never known."
1. What is Davi Kopenawa's primary point in document above?
2. How could this document be used to answer the question: Should the Brazilian Government
Develop the Amazon Rain forest?
YES, the Brazilian Government should develop NO, the Brazilian Government shouldn't
the rainforest,
develop the rainforest.
**one or both sides of this chart may filled in depending on the document**
Document 8
Sustainable management of the forest
Brazil needs to exploit the AmazoNs resources to develop, so leaving it untouched
not an option,
Uncontrolled and unchecked exploitation can cause irreversible damage such as [osÿ
of biodiversity, soil erosion, flooding and climate change, So, sÿJsLainable use of the
forest is essential. Sustainable development will meet the needs of Brazil's
population without compromising the needs of future generations,
Possible strategies include:
:ÿ' Agro-foresttÿ/ - growing trees and crops at the same time, This lets farrners
take advantage of shelter from the canopy of trees, It prevents soil erosion
and the crops benefit from the nutrienlss from the dead organic matter,
:ÿ' Selective ÿogging - trees are only felled when U&ey reach a particular height,
This allows young trees a guaranteed life span and the forest win regain full
maturity after around 30-50 years,
Education - ensuring those involved in exploitation and management of the
forest understand the consequences behind their actions,
:,ÿ Afforestation - the opposite of deforestation, if trees are cut down, they are
replaced to maintain the canopy,
¢ÿ Forest resettles - areas protected from exploitation,
Monitoring - use of satellite technology and photography to check that any
activities taking place are legal and follow guidelines for sustainabi]ity.
1, Using context clues, define sustainable development?
2. What is the main idea of this document?
,
How could this document be used to answer the question: Should the Brazilian Government develop
the Amazon Rain forest?
YES, the Brazilian Government should develop NO, the Brazilian Government shouldn't
the rainforest,
develop the rainforest.
Document 9
Positives and Negatives of Human Intervention in the Amazon Raiuforest
Source: BBC (World renowned news organization based out of England)
1, What is the main idea of
this document?
:ÿ New roads divide Lip parts of the
l rainforest and can cut off connections
II oLwoon d .o,.ont and o ,ot,c
L
I
I
systems. For example, a road can stop
monkeys such as the golden [ion [amarin
|
from travelling to gather food and, in
li
turn, distribute seeds to re-sow plants in
I
deforestation, Hardwood trees take
many years to 9r,aw so can be difficult to replace,
transportation and mining can lead to .... ÿ
I ÿ:ÿ Fertile soils that make farming possible are quickly washed away when the
I forest is cleared. [f soil ends up in rivers, this can lead to flooding.
! ÿ Loÿs of animal habitat occurs when trees are cut down. Hence,
[ deforestation can result In endangering animals and plant life, or even
/
causinq them to become ex-Unc[,
[
MEDCs or large companies and don't benefit the lainferest communities,
Profitÿ from large-scale farming and selling resources often go back to
2, Based on the facts
provided, do you think human
intervention in the Amazon
Rainforest is overall more positive
or negative? Why?
p0sffive hn p'aÿs' of hmnan iiÿtervenfioiÿ ..........................................................................
,ÿ' Improved transportation - new roads and airports. Better transportation
means easier access to raw materials like minerals and Limber. RainforesL
resources can be transported away and sold,
®ÿ Infrastructure, hospitals and education can be improved from the money
gained from selling natural resources.
Profit5 from selling resources can be used to improve a country's
infrastructure. For" example, profiLs from the sale of rainforest resources can
be used to build schools and hospitals,
;ÿ Raw materials, eg tropical hardwoods such as ebony and mahogany, can
be sold for a good price abroad.
Mineral deposits in the Amazon include bauxite (the main consLi[uent of
aluminium), iron ore, manganese, gold, silver and diamonds. Hinerals can be
sold for high profits.
; Large-scale farming brings money into the country and provides food and
jobs for the country's growing population.
¢ Small-scale farming provides food for- rainforest communities and the
landless poor of Brazil,
....................
,,, ,, ,,,,i ,, ,, ,,,,,,,,, ,, , , ,i ,,
.....
, ,,
ÿ
.....
YES, the Brazilian Government should develop NO, the Brazilian Government shouldn't
the rainforest,
develop the rainforest,