Environmental problems in Guatemala (Re-write)

(Re-write) BLOG entry #2

Do we have a moral obligation to take action to protect the future of a planet in peril? Check websites for environmental problems in your region for ex. http://350.org/map/ Find out if water.org is involved in your region. Are any other environmental groups, for ex. Greenpeace working in your region?

My research region, Guatemala has several environmental problems, such as deforestation, where over 50% of the nation's forests have been destroyed since 1890—and consequent soil erosion, according to Encyclopedia of the Nations.  The vast needs of natural resources also contributed to other problems such as habitat loss, over-exploitation of natural resources, and environmental contamination.

Deforestation is one of the most serious problem in Guatemala. In the 90s, the nation has obtained 90% of its energy from wood, losing 40-60 thousand hectares of forest per year. (Credit: google.com)

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is a U.S. Government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential.Regarding environmental issues in Guatemala, USAID are focusing on conserving biodiversity, reducing emissions, and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Some of its aid on Guatemala includes "biodiversity conservation and monitoring in key natural protected areas in the country, especially the Maya Biosphere Reserve and Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve, to reduce deforestation and protect critical habitat for key species such as the scarlet macaw, jaguars, and spider and howler monkeys," and its efforts to "reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change focus on adopting new agricultural practices, watershed protection, developing early warning systems, and integrating adaptation to climate change impacts into municipal plans," stated on their report.

The aftermath of Hurricane Stan, a category one storm that devastated Central America in October 2005. (Credit: The Guardian)

However, I was not able to find any more organizations that aids the environment issues in Guatemala. I did found out that there is a Greenpeace Guatemala facebook page, but it seemed like it has not been active since 2012. 

Al Argueta is an author on Moon Travel Guides. He wrote about the environmental problems in Guatemala back in 2012. He wrote that "there is a long way to go to make environmental awareness a matter of national consciousness, as demonstrated by how frequently one sees garbage by the roadside or car and bus passengers casually throwing refuse out their windows." He stressed that "the problem of raising this consciousness is exacerbated when one takes into account the overwhelming lack of education of the general populace, with its alarming levels of illiteracy, and the fact that environmental protection always takes a back seat when it comes down to a question of preserving the forest or cutting it down to plant subsistence crops." Argueta has pointed out a major cause of the lack of environmental awareness in the country: people are less conscious of the problems as they are less educated.