Case Studies What is a Case Study?

A case study is an in-depth investigation of an individual subject. Case studies can be done on any subject or topic

A case study is an in-depth investigation of an individual subject.

Case studies can be done on any subject or topic

Because this unit is about Latin America and specifically the environment of Latin America, each of you are going to do a case study on an environmental issue in the Amazon Rain Forest (The largest Rain Forest on the planet)

Because this unit is about Latin America and specifically the environment of Latin America, each of you are going to do a case study on an environmental issue in the Amazon Rain Forest (The largest Rain Forest on the planet)

BUT WAIT!!! We don’t know how to do a case study!!!!!!! That is perfectly ok, because I am about to show you an example of one…

BUT WAIT!!! We don’t know how to do a case study!!!!!!!

That is perfectly ok, because I am about to show you an example of one…

CASE STUDY EXAMPLE

Coffee Production and Deforestation in the Amazon PROBLEM: Thousands of acres of Amazon Rain Forest are being burned in order to grow coffee trees

Once you’ve stated the problem/issue you can begin to research the issue Here are some websites I used to research my topic on Coffee in the Amazon.

Once you’ve stated the problem/issue you can begin to research the issue

Here are some websites I used to research my topic on Coffee in the Amazon.

Rainforest Alliance http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/agriculture.cfm?id =coffee Take 3-5 minutes to access this website and scan some of the information

Rainforest Alliance Key Points Coffee is farmed on about (30 million acres) worldwide (The size of England) Only 1.3% of that coffee produced is RA certified For 150 years, coffee was farmed under the canopy of the rain forest on natural trees, Now is grown on under-the-sun plants in monocultural farms. Deforestation is rampant

Coffee is farmed on about (30 million acres) worldwide (The size of England)

Only 1.3% of that coffee produced is RA certified

For 150 years, coffee was farmed under the canopy of the rain forest on natural trees,

Now is grown on under-the-sun plants in monocultural farms.

Deforestation is rampant

TheAtlantic.com http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/99aug/9908ecocoffee.htm Take 3-5 minutes to access this website and scan some of the information

Key Points from TheAtlantic.com Technified coffee is vastly produced Natural coffee tastes better and is better for the environment Coffee can be grown without disturbing any of the rain forest vegetation Bird migration routes are being altered by the deforestation More chemicals are required for sun trees

Technified coffee is vastly produced

Natural coffee tastes better and is better for the environment

Coffee can be grown without disturbing any of the rain forest vegetation

Bird migration routes are being altered by the deforestation

More chemicals are required for sun trees

Iracambi http://www.iracambi.com/english/research_papers/deforestation_coffee_cultivation_abstract.shtml Take 3-5 minutes to access this website and scan some of the information

Key Points on Iracambi Within the first century of coffee cultivation, some 7,200 km2 of primary forest were cleared for coffee cultivation (Dean 1995) Crop-rotation could help with the forest devastation New forests are being planted in plains to recover what has been lost

Within the first century of coffee cultivation, some 7,200 km2 of primary forest were cleared for coffee cultivation (Dean 1995)

Crop-rotation could help with the forest devastation

New forests are being planted in plains to recover what has been lost

World Wildlife Fund http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/policy/agriculture_environment/commodities/coffee/environmental_impacts/index.cfm Take 3-5 minutes to access this website and scan some of the information

Key Points from the WWF Of the 50 countries in the world with the highest deforestation rates from 1990 to 1995, 37 were coffee producers Full-sun coffee plantations support 90% fewer bird species than shade-grown coffee.

Of the 50 countries in the world with the highest deforestation rates from 1990 to 1995, 37 were coffee producers

Full-sun coffee plantations support 90% fewer bird species than shade-grown coffee.

Key Point #1 Vast amounts of rain forest (and the shade coffee trees in them) are being cut down in order for sun coffee trees to be grown and harvested more quickly

Vast amounts of rain forest (and the shade coffee trees in them) are being cut down in order for sun coffee trees to be grown and harvested more quickly

Key Point #2 By cutting down the shade coffee trees, the primary rain forest must be cut down as well and this primary forest cannot recover back to it’s original state for years and years

By cutting down the shade coffee trees, the primary rain forest must be cut down as well and this primary forest cannot recover back to it’s original state for years and years

Key Point #3 The life of sun coffee trees is significantly shorter making shade trees the more healthy solution even though not the quickest method More animal and plant life exists in and around the shade trees Shade coffee trees live longer Large amounts of pesticides and herbicides are required to help sun coffee trees survive and these end up in the waterways

The life of sun coffee trees is significantly shorter making shade trees the more healthy solution even though not the quickest method

More animal and plant life exists in and around the shade trees

Shade coffee trees live longer

Large amounts of pesticides and herbicides are required to help sun coffee trees survive and these end up in the waterways

Conclusion Deforestation and its side effects are a direct result that cannot be avoided during the cultivation of the sun coffee trees Wildlife/Nature agencies are finally beginning to act in an effort to protect vital rain forest land Methods of conservation are being, and should be explored in order to protect some of the most diverse, and vital plant and animal life on the planet

Deforestation and its side effects are a direct result that cannot be avoided during the cultivation of the sun coffee trees

Wildlife/Nature agencies are finally beginning to act in an effort to protect vital rain forest land

Methods of conservation are being, and should be explored in order to protect some of the most diverse, and vital plant and animal life on the planet

Amazon Interactive Coffee or Conservation??? http://www.eduweb.com/agriculture/comag.html