A Discussion of the potentials for reducing urban degradation in the Caribbean and Latin America

1. GEO 3201 - Spatial Issues in the
Caribbean and Latin America
Topic:
Urban Environmental
Degradation

2. Group Members
 Rovindra Persaud
 Carlesa Duncan
 Mohindra Scarce
 Audwin Anthony
 Kester Daniels

3. Soil degradation in and near
urban areas
 Image: www.unep.org

4. Definition of Terms
Urban area- is the region surrounding a
city. Most inhabitants of urban areas
have non-agricultural jobs. Urban areas
are very developed, meaning there is a
density of human structures such as
houses, commercial buildings, roads,
bridges, and railways. "Urban area" can
refer to towns, cities, and suburbs. An
urban area includes the city itself, as
well as the surrounding areas. (National
Geographic, 2013)

5. Environmental degradation is the
deterioration of the environment
through depletion of resources
such as air, water and soil; the
destruction of ecosystems and the
extinction of wildlife. It is defined as
any change or disturbance to the
environment perceived to be
deleterious or undesirable (Johnson, D.L., S.H. Ambrose,
T.J. Bassett, M.L. Bowen, D.E. Crummey, J.S. Isaacson, D.N. Johnson, P. Lamb, M. Saul, and A.E. Winter-Nelson. 1997.
Meanings of environmental terms. Journal of Environmental Quality 26: 581–589.)

6. Urban Environmental
Degradation
The destruction
and deterioration
of the
environment in
urban areas as a
result of
urbanization and
urban practices.
Image : https://encrypted-
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YtxGIKnf9Pj_dLZgMGncLfwzW2o5XC-jCK6Db

7. Causes of Urban
Environmental Degradation
 Poverty (Slum and Squatter Settlements) in places like
Nigeria and India
 Pollution (Biological, air, chemical, land )
 Overpopulation and Congestion (China)
 Lack of Education
 Industrialization ( Brazil)
Image: http://www.hollingscenter.org/great-games-local-rules/http://www.hollingscenter.org/great-games-
local

8. Problems
 Source: http://cdn.phys.org/newman/gfx/news/hires/2015/urbanairpoll.jpg

9. Effects of Urban Environmental
Degradation
 Death and Diseases
 Loss of Biodiversity
 Aesthetic Displeasure
 Ozone Layer Depletion and Contribution to Global
Warming
 Loss of Tourism
 Economic Strain
Source: (Mohapi, 2009)

10. Diagrams showing the effects of urban activity and a table
showing death by pollution related illness .
Image : https://www.unep.gov/sites/default/files/.../1861/RDCSCentralAsia.pdf

11. Remedies for Urban Environmental
Degradation
 Green Restoration
Projects e.g. urban
forestry and urban
agriculture in Qatar and
Canada
 Smart and green city
planning
 De- Urbanization
(Through Agricultural
and Land Reforms) brail
Venezuela and Columbia
 Poverty Alleviation
 Education
Images : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

12. Conclusion
 Looking at the effects of urbanization on urban communities,
urban deterioration and degradation is no guaranteed but
larger spaces will be more difficult to manage . The creation of
squatter settlements and slums as well as increases in the
levels of poverty contribute to urban environmental
degradation immensely.
 It can also negatively affect the economy of the country
especially those categorized as developing , however there are
various methods that can be utilized to mitigate and rectify
these issues, such better urban planning and de-urbanization
among others.
 Urban Environmental Degradation is directly linked to the
issues of urbanization and urban sprawl, however these
negatives can be transformed into positives to boost and aid
the countries economic status.

13. References
 http://education.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/urban-area/
 Johnson, D.L., S.H. Ambrose, T.J. Bassett, M.L. Bowen, D.E. Crummey, J.S.
Isaacson, D.N. Johnson, P. Lamb, M. Saul, and A.E. Winter-Nelson. 1997.
Meanings of environmental terms. Journal of Environmental Quality 26: 581–589.
 Mohapi,T.2009, Urban environmental problems: implication in Lesotho, Instittute of
Southern African Studies, Human settlement and development, Vol4, 3-9
 http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-effects-of-environmental-
degradation.php
 http://www.unep.org/geo/geo1/ch/ch2_9.htm
 http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract;jsessionid=7C4CF0BFDA26F40
A78F9D22A65162142.journals?fromPage=online&aid=5926764
 http://web.mit.edu/urbanupgrading/urbanenvironment/issues/key-UE-issues.html
 http://www.grida.no/publications/et/ep2/page/2483.aspx