The Environmental Problems of Mali and Honduras

By: Reid Evanich, By: Reid Evanich, Ryan Dirvin, Will Kerr, Ryan Dirvin, Will Kerr,

Alex Rankine, Alex Rankine, and Andrew Winterand Andrew Winter

Development

• The process of increasing national incomes, improving quality of life for all citizens, and increasing social status in the world.

Mali

• Capital-Bamako

• Population-12,666,987

• Located Western Africa, southwest of Algeria

History of Mali

• Became independent from France in 1960

• Dictatorship brought down 1991 by military coup. Ran by Amadou Toure

• Elections-free/fair

President Amadou Toumani Touré

Basic Environmental Issues

• Desertification, soil erosion, deforestation, loss of pastureland, poor water quality.

• Wildlife threatened by drought, poaching, and destruction of wildlife.

Deforestation

• Government lacks means to prevent cutting down trees for fire wood.

• 10.3% of Mali is forest

Poaching

• Authorities lack means to control poaching of prevented animals.

• Endangerd/extinct animals--cheetah, addax, elephant, Barbary sheep, and Sahara oryx

Waste

• Mali's cities produce about 0.4 million tons of solid waste.

• Poor water quality

• Majority of household-no running water.

Honduras• The capital is Tegucigalpa• Population=7,792,854

• Located on the Caribbean Sea between Guatemala and Nicaragua

History of Honduras

• Became independent in 1821 from Spain.

• Freely elected government in 1982.

• Hurricane Mitch-1998, killed 5,600, left $2,000,000,000 in damage.

President Manuel Zelaya

Basic Issues in the Environment

• Soil erosion, loss of fertility in soil (because of slash+burn cultivation), rapid depletion of forests, and waste has hurt Honduras.

Deforestation

• 1990-1995, rate of deforestation =2.34%

• About 200,000 acres of forest are cut down each year because of peasants searching for land/money.

Deforestation

• Illegal logging

• 85% of timber production is illegal

• Timber trade feeds corruption in government and other areas

Waste

• Cities produce 500,000 tons of waste a year.

• Air pollution results from lack of pollution control for industries and cars

Effects of Hurricane Mitch

Honduras Environment Map

Compare

• Both have problems with waste, deforestation, desertification, and soil erosion

• Also have problems with poaching of endangered/protected animals

Contrast

• Mali = landlocked—Honduras = coast– Mali relies more on resources in its own

country

• Honduras suffers from floods due to hurricanes

How Environment Effects Development

• Honduras—desertification and hurricanes cause destruction to crops/towns– This leads to poverty– Leads to deforestation, poaching, etc.

How Environment Effects Development

• Mali—drought, desertification, and soil erosion– Issues lead to poverty– Leads to deforestation, poaching, and poor

crop quality = no food

The Future

• Honduras—forests will be nearly gone– More polluted– Majority poor

• Mali—nearly desert– Decrease in water quality-pollution– Majority poor

Works Cited Butler, Rhett A. Mongabay.com. 2006. 2 June 2009.

<http://rainforests.mongabay.com/20honduras.htm>

 

Encyclopedia of the Nations. 2009. Advameg, Inc. 2 June 2009.

<http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Americas/Honduras-ENVIRONMENT.html>

 

Canadian International Development Agency. 2007. 2 June 2009.

<http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/CIDAWEB/acdicida.nsf/En/EMA-218131146-PHE>

 

Country Studies. 2009. 2 June 2009. <http://countrystudies.us/>