World Cultures 11

Unit Latin America

Name: Grace Bridges

Block: 4
The Amazon Rainforest Internet Assignment

Purpose: This assignments goal is to expose you to basic facts about the Amazon rainforest as well as
introduce you to some of the wildlife and people that live inside it. You will also understand how the rainforest
affects the nations and people of South America and how it is facing unique challenges in the modern world.
Part I (Overview): Use www.worldwildlife.org/places/amazon and follow the directions carefully to
complete this assignment.
1. Review the photograph. Choose one descriptive word (adjective) that comes to mind and explain how it
relates to the image.
It is very big. There are many trees, no houses or building. This area is not man made and I assume there are
thousands of environments living there.
2. Click on Overview and review the information, including the visuals. List the 8 nations that the
Amazon rainforest is located in.
- Brazil
-

Peru

Ecuador

Guyana

Columbia

Venezuela
-

- Bolivia

Suriname

3. Click on Forest Habitat and review the information there, including the visuals. A forest can vary based
on several factors. What are these four factors?
- Protects our watershed
- lots of our plants and animals live here
-

Provides timber

- huge supply of oxygen

4. What makes rainforests special?

They are 80% of the worlds diversity. They are the most diverse and complex forests on Earth.
5. Worldwide, how quickly is deforestation occurring? How quickly is it occurring in the Amazon? Use
statistics from the reading to explain your answer.
a. Worldwide 46-58 million square miles of forest are gone every year (thats equivalent to 36
football fields every single minute)
b. Amazon This is the planets largest rainforest and it has lost at least 17% of its forests in the
last half century due to human activity.
6. Scroll down to the Why They Matter section. Scroll through the three images and review the captions.
List and explain why rainforests matter.
a. People depend on forest- for hunting, gathering, medicine, fresh water, food, supplies, air, etc.
b. Carbon Sink- trees and plants take in carbon dioxide which takes from the atmosphere.

c. Unique Biodiversity- 80% of all plants and animals live here and it is home to thousands of
species.
7. Return to the main page (www.worldwildlife.org/places/amazon) and scroll down to the Species section.
Choose three animals found in the Amazon and describe them in the chart.
Animal
Description
Amur Leopard
This is a rare subspecies that can run as fast as 37 miles per hour. This extremely
strong predator lives for about 10-15 years.
Macaw
There are thousands of bird species, Macaw being one. They are extremely
intelligent and can live up to 60 years.
Chimpanzee
Very social animals, can live to about 50 years old. Humans share 98% of the
same genes as these monkeys.
Part II (Native Peoples): Use www.survivalinternational.org/about/amazontribes to learn about the native
peoples of the Amazon rainforest.
8. How many people live in the Amazon rainforest, and how are they organized?
It is home to 1 million Indians and they are divided in 400 tribes. Each tribe has their own language, culture
and territory.
9. To what extent have they had contact with outsiders? Explain your response.
For over 500 years, they dont have any contact with outsiders.
10. Create a t-chart that compares and contrasts your daily life with that of the people of the Amazon. Include
at least four points of comparison.
They hunt and fish for food. I go to the store or a restaurant for food.
They have access to Western healthcare and education. I go to school for education and have healthcare.
They have much respect over each others land. I live in a house and dont think of it as my territory or
land.
They have problems like illegal logging. We have problems like fracking.
11. Why are land rights so important to the Amazon tribes? Read the text and watch the video clip in the Land
= Life section to answer this question.
Because it is one of the only things they cherish and have and own. They have much respect for this.
12. Do you think most Americans agree with the viewpoint expressed by the woman in the video clip? Explain.

Part III (Current Challenges): Use www.theguardian.com/environment/amazon-rainforest to research

some of the current challenges facing the Amazon rainforest. Please be mature in handling photographs of
native people, as their dress is quite different from ours!
13. Choose articles that interest you about each of the topics in the chart. Read them and complete the chart.
Challenge
Impact (2 sentences)
Possible Solutions (2 sentences)
Deforestation
The forest dropped 18% over the past year.
The Forest Code is being revised and
possibly will enforce some laws about
deforestation.

Mining/Drilling

This is a big problem in Peru and Ecuador.

Oil is a much wanted resource.

A lot of money is put into this. A possible

solution is

Crime

57 activists were killed in Peru since 2002.

Brazil, Honduras and the Philippines are
dangerous in crime also including murders.

A stronger government could defiantly help

the crime problem. All the violent activities
would decrease if their government wasnt
weak.

14. Go to edition.cnn.com/2013/07/25/sport/football/football-brazil-world-cup-manaus/index.html and

review the article there. What challenges did the rainforest pose for Brazil in its efforts to prepare for the
2014 World Cup?
Traffic jams, the weather/environment, overcrowding, etc.
15. How did the regions emphasis on environmental protection influence the stadium project?
They need to protect their rare animals and plants. Their ecosystem is so unique they need to be very
protected of their nation.