Unit 3 Geography Notes

In countries throughout Central America and the Caribbean, thousands of acres of lowland rainforest are destroyed to make habitat for cash crops such as bananas, pineapples, and cacao. Banana plantations are examples of "Green Deserts." There is a paucity of diversity - the area might be green, but there is only one crop for miles. Not only are forests cleared for banana plantations, but helicopters are often used to spray the banana crops. Helicopters work every hour there is daylight to spray the crops. Bananas have some of the highest levels of pesticides of any produce. There has been a recent trend to producing bananas without as much insecticide. Although this generally results in shorter banana trees and smaller bananas, Europeans, in particular, will pay a high price for these bananas. Although they earn the designation "eco-friendly" due to the lack of pesticide, the fact remains that thousands of acres of forests were cleared to plant to crops. In spite of the widespread presence of banana plantations and the many people working at them, the result has not been an increase in the standard of living. In general, a few wealthy landowners control the plantations and pay the workers about $10 for a labor intensive day of work. Another problem with the use of so much land for export is that once the produce has been exported, the countries do not have enough food to feed their own people. Following many years of forest clearing and destructive land use, Costa Rica has created one of the most ambitious conservation programs in Central America. The idea of sustainable agriculture has been gaining acceptance in areas of Central America in recent years. Sustainable agriculture is profitable farming that does not hurt the environment. In the past, outside experts have attempted to reconfigure some farming practices in the Central American region due to the fact that global markets depend on rainforest products. If the environment is destroyed in the process and that limits future growth, global markets will suffer. Most attempts at instituting sustainable agricultural practices on the region have failed to this point due to the fact that outside experts have come in to the area and tried to force new practices on farmers without understanding the barriers to implementation or why certain practices are currently used.

An overarching goal of sustainable agriculture is protecting the land for future generations. Slash-and-burn agricultural practices destroy the land for future generations - that practice might provide short term benefits, but the negative impact far outweighs the good. An example of sustainable farming might be to teach farmers to create diversion terracing to reduce soil erosion, build hedgerows to prevent runoff into waterways, or use gradual composting as an alternative to synthetic fertilizers.

Deforestation is occurring all over Central America to make way for export crops, but forests are also disappearing due to the harvesting of timber, the building of roads, and to make way for cattle grazing. Cattle ranching is a way of life in many parts of Central America, specifically in Costa Rica as seen in the photo on this page. Many thousands of hectares of forest have been converted to cattle land. In fact, over 2/3 of the agricultural land of the region is used for cattle grazing. Four Central American countries - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras - were among the top ten countries ranked by the percentage loss of forests. Costa Rica averaged an annual loss of 3.9% of its forests, largely due to the vast expansion of cattle ranching. By 1983, about 83% of Costa Rica forests had been felled (cut down), mostly for beef production, and much of that was shipped to the United States for use as hamburger. Since 1960, when the Central America beef market began booming, over 25% of the rainforests had been cleared for cattle grazing. In the 1980s and 1990s, the fast food hamburger market in the United States required vast amounts of low-quality cheap meat. The result was widespread deforestation in Central America. In recent years, when the United States. stopped importing as much beef from Central America, countries like Costa Rica were left with millions of acres of empty land where there used to be rainforest. Unfortunately, in spite of the large amounts of beef being shipped to the United States, cattle ranching was actually not that profitable. In general, a few wealthy landowners owned the ranches and workers were paid very little. Many of the landowners received subsidies from the government as well as tax incentives to create these ranches. The destruction of the rainforests for these crops is incredibly important. One of the most important roles of the rainforest is to moderate destructive rain and drought cycles in local areas. Tropical rainforests are also home to over half the world's species, all squeezed into a narrow strip of land along the equator. In addition to the great many species found within rainforests, there are also a large number of species endemic to the rainforest. When a species is considered endemic to a region it means that it only exists in that one place. The Caribbean nations suffered from large-scale deforestation to clear land for sugarcane production from the 16th century to the 19th century. Today, the main threat to vegetation is the large increase in cattle production, leading to overgrazing of the land. Today, less than 10 percent of the original vegetation in the Caribbean remains.

As we learned earlier in this unit, a developing nation is one that over relies on agrarian practices for its economic well being. In Central America, an overreliance on agriculture has kept most of the citizens of these countries at or below the poverty level. Political instability, poor economic conditions, and a lack of employment opportunities are all responsible for widespread poverty. Many of the people living in poverty are living in rural areas. Geographic isolation is a problem that leads to more poverty due to limited access to quality public services like health and education. Specifically in Central America, many Native Americans are living in poverty. The Native American populations of Central America are the people who are native to the region. The Maya make up a large portion of the Native American population of Central America. Native Americans are more likely to be poor for a number of reasons. Language barriers, geographical isolation, and poor quality public services are all reasons the Indigenous populations stay trapped in a cycle of poverty. Also, perhaps surprisingly, racism against Native Americans is quite widespread. Unfortunately, poverty reduction strategies instituted in Central America have had little impact on the region. In fact, poverty levels are on the rise. Poverty and lack of choices for alternative sources of income have led the poor to exploit their environment to dangerous levels. As the natural environment is destroyed, the area becomes even more at risk of natural disasters. And it is generally the poor who bear the brunt of the effects when a hurricane or earthquake or mudslide hits a region. Non governmental organizations (NGOs), international groups, and local governments must continue to improve the status of the millions of people who live in poverty in Central America. Poverty reduction strategies and the improvement of rural communities must involve local institutions if they are to be successful.

Christianity is the majority religion in the Caribbean, especially in countries influenced by Spain and France, where Roman Catholicism is dominant. However, the Caribbean also has significant numbers of Hindu and Muslim residents, and Rastafarianism has spread throughout Jamaica. The most popular forms of music in the Caribbean include Calypso and Reggae, both created in the Caribbean and influenced by Indigenous peoples. There are more than 30 million people in the Caribbean. Their cultures are influenced by a mix of traditions from colonial rule and traditions rooted in the many cultures of Africa. Some nations, such as Barbados, follow customs developed by colonial traditions. Others, such as Jamaica, have a distinct pre-colonial culture. Islands that are still in the possession of other countries, such as Puerto Rico and Guadalupe, are greatly culturally influenced by those countries.

Caribbean agriculture is dominated by large-scale commercial agriculture and small-scale subsistence farming. Commercial agriculture is carried out on plantations that specialize in growing certain crops depending on their region. Most of the Caribbean islands are dominated by sugar production, but bananas have also become an important export. Coffee and tobacco are also important crops, especially in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. Most subsistence farming is done on hills and mountains, as they are more suitable for growing fruits and vegetables. Many people blame the restriction of subsistence farming to the most unproductive soil on European and U.S. exploitation of the best land for their own financial gain. Additionally, Caribbean countries are also some of the most economically vulnerable to natural disasters. The Caribbean is generally considered a politically stable region and has many long-lasting democracies. The Dominican Republic was one of the first to usher in democracy and led the way for other Latin American countries to do the same. Despite the challenges they face, many Caribbean nations have had liberal democracies for the last 30 years. However, there have been areas of political instability, most notably in Haiti. Puerto Rico and Guadalupe are both possessions of other countries. Puerto Rico became an American territory after the Spanish-American War, so it is managed by a governor elected by the people.

The democratization of Central America has only begun to occur in the past few decades. Following centuries of subjugation and domination by European nations, Central America has had a difficult time finding a good political and economic balance. Contrary to popular belief, even in history, the people of Central America were not united. The Maya, for example, were a compilation of many different entities sharing a similar culture. After studying the writing and the archaeology of the Maya, historians have begun to better understand the ancient political structure. The Maya political structure has been most closely compared to the Greeks. Some people believe their detailed writing system was created to record the transfer of power through the generations. Primogeniture was the primary way that power transferred hands - from the king to his son. Unfortunately, although the Maya people have not been completely eradicated, centuries of persecution by European conquerors have turned the Maya into impoverished outcasts in their own land. Today, the Maya play a very limited role in the political systems of Central American countries. This region bears many social and ecological scars of recent civil wars as well as natural disasters. Corruption is one of the main obstacles to development in Central America, according to many experts commenting on numerous scandals involving top-ranking officials in the region. The lack of transparency that tends to go hand in hand with government corruption leads to a level of uncertainty that effectively discourages foreign investors. The inability of government to confront corruption creates a climate of impunity that tends to make the problem especially widespread in the Central American region.

Emigration from Central America continues to be on the rise. People emigrate for a variety of reasons. Political instability, lack of economic opportunities, and natural disasters are all reasons for people to leave their homes and risk their lives to cross borders without documentation. In recent years, increasing poverty among the rural population has resulted in what has been termed, "the feminization of emigration." Growing numbers of women have been moving northward in order to get jobs to send money back to support their families - referred to as remittances. Often times these women are leaving their own children behind. As you learned in the Guatemala Fair Trade Coffee tutorial, remittances have now replaced coffee as the primary source of income in that country. As the United States experiences an economic downturn, there is increased concern that remittances will be reduced. Emigration is not only from Central America and the Caribbean to the United States. There is also emigration between countries within Central America. Many Costa Ricans complain about the large numbers of immigrants from Nicaragua that flood their social service system. Mexico has tightened its border restrictions to cut back on the flood of Guatemalans crossing the border seeking to find work in Mexico. Every country has been impacted. Study tip! Emigrate vs. Immigrate? These two words sound similar, but they apply to different situations. Here is an easy way to remember which word to use: A person is EMIGRATING when they are EXITING a country and a person is IMMIGRATING when they are coming IN to a country. An emigrant is exiting and an immigrant is coming in. Easy!

The lands that make up Central America are the ancient homes of the Mesoamerican civilization

The region designated as Central America is made up of seven independent nations. Belize Costa Rica Honduras Guatemala Panama El Salvador Nicaragua

The crater of the volcano Poás in Costa Rica The region of Central America has been described by some as a crucible. There are very few places in the world with such biodiversity, competing climate patterns, tectonic action, and a distinct cultural and evolutionary heritage. All these forces interplay to create a fascinating study of the physical characteristics and processes of the area.

Central America is a fascinating region to study different geographic landforms and physical systems. Central America itself is an isthmus, or narrow strip of land connecting two larger landmasses, that connects North and South America. The country of Panama is also an isthmus, connecting Central America to South America. In addition, Panama is home to the engineering marvel, the Panama Canal. A canal is an artificial waterway or artificially improved river used for travel. One of the most beautiful landscapes in Guatemala can be found at the Chimaltenango Plateau. A plateau is a word of French origins meaning plate; it is a large highland area of fairly level land separated from surrounding land by steep slopes. The Chimaltenango Plateau is a large, flat area that serves as a way station for travelers headed from Guatemala City. The entire region of Central America sits on four massive tectonic plates. The boundary between these four plates is called the Middle America Trench. The Middle America Trench is an oceanic trench in the eastern Pacific Ocean off the southwestern coast of Middle America, stretching from central Mexico to Costa Rica. The trench is 1,700 miles long and is 21,880 feet at its deepest point. An oceanic trench is a long, but narrow, topographic depression of the sea floor. No country in Central America is landlocked - each country touches an ocean - and the islands of the Caribbean, obviously, are surrounded by water. Cuba, one of the last communist nations, is situated in a tropical archipelago with amazing natural resources. An archipelago is simply a group of islands. The Caribbean islands are often synonymous with cays. Cays are typically located in tropical waters. They are mostly made up of biogenic sediment from coral reef ecosystems. Some of the smaller cays often appear to be no more than a sandbar, while larger or older cays will have trees and other foliage growing on them.

Most of the people of Central America are either Native American or a mix of Native American and Spanish. The predominant religion is Roman Catholic, mainly due to the Catholic missionaries that arrived with the Spanish Conquistadors in the 15th century. Over half of Central America is considered poor and almost all of the indigenous people of the region live in poverty. While each country has its own distinct heritage, there are different influences in each country. For example, Belize is the only country without Spanish as its national language due to the fact that it was a colony of England until a few short decades ago. In every country you will be able to find traditional foods like masa, pozole, and sopes prepared with maize - or, corn - considered the most important crop of the region historically. Today, bananas, cotton, coffee, and sugar are the main export crops of the region

Countries south of Mexico• Honduras• Guatemala• Nicaragua• El Salvador• Belize• Costa Rica• Panama

As we have learned, the economic situation in Central America is a difficult one. The countries of Central America are referred to as developing nations due to their lack of industrialization, limited social programs, and absence of a free market economy. A developed country is one that has had enough freedom to create a highly diversified economy that operates independently from the government and political establishment of the country. In other words, no political leader is telling the businesses what to make, or how much to charge, or how to pay the workers. For the most part, businesses are left to rise and fall on the whims of the market. Countries that fell into this category were sometimes referred to as Third World countries. Such a term is obviously derogatory and is generally avoided today. The terms "developed" and "developing" are not clearly defined by specific parameters. They are used mostly out of convenience as a way to group nations with similar economic situations. Developed nations usually have moved away from agriculture as a primary source of income and have well-developed physical and technological bases. All the countries of Central America and the Caribbean continue to rely on agriculture as a primary source of income and would be considered developing nations, with the exception of Haiti. Haiti is considered a least developed nation due to its excessive poverty, human rights violations, and extreme lack of infrastructure development.

Large sculptures created by the Olmec: Colossal Heads Tiny financing project for the poor: Microloan Nations with non-agricultural industries: Developed Island shared by Haiti and Dominican Republic: Hispaniola Group of islands that make up part of the Caribbean: Antilles Greek term meaning Middle America: Mesoamerica Mother-culture of Central America: Olmec Fully developed written language: Maya Decimated by the Spanish in the 16th century: Aztec Nations dependent on agriculture for income: Developing

Indigenous people of Central America existed for centuries before the Europeans arrived. However, beginning with the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, for the next three centuries the Spanish Empire exerted control over most of the Caribbean and Central American lands. It was not until the Spanish-American War in 1898 that Spanish rule ended in the Americas. Hernan Cortez, a Spanish Conquistador, was an influential figure in the history of the Mesoamerican civilizations and the development of the culture of Central America. Cortez claimed much of the land of Central America for Spain and was responsible for conquering the Aztecs. The Aztecs were conquered by the Spanish within a year, but it took over 20 years for the Mayans to come to the same fate. There is limited information about the Mayan civilization in the Common Era because the Spanish, specifically the Catholic missionaries, instituted a policy of killing all the Mayan priests and burning all of their books. Their detailed hieroglyphic system kept close track of a wide array of information and it was the main route information was passed down between generations

MAYAN LIFE Direct descendants of the Ancient Maya still live in Mesoamerica. This area includes Mexico (which includes the Yucatan Peninsula and Las Chiapas), Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. The Ancient Maya relied heavily on their environment. They were and still are nature-worshipers, worshipping the gods of Rain, Sun and Corn. Agriculture and the timeliness of harvests were important in Ancient Mayan religion. Today, descendants continue to use the same slash and burn farming methods their ancestors used.

Hurricanes Due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, tropical latitudes, and the warm Gulf Coastal waters, Central America feels the effects of many hurricanes. The word hurricane comes from the name for the Carib god, "Hurican" which was derived from the name of the Mayan god, "Hurakan." The deadliest hurricane in Central America was Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Over 10,000 people were killed - mainly in Honduras and Nicaragua. Mitch caused such massive and widespread damage that Honduran President Carlos Roberto Flores said the hurricane destroyed fifty years of progress in the country. Widespread flooding, mudslides, and winds wiped out existing infrastructure. More than ten years later the country of Honduras is still far from recovered. Earthquakes There have been over 50 significant earthquakes in Central America since 1900. Destructive, upper-crustal earthquakes have occurred at a rate of about one event every 2 ½ years during this century. Since 1900, approximately 20,000 people have died from earthquakes. The bulk of Central America's population is concentrated along the volcanic front - this is a cause for much concern.

Most Central American Volcanoes are located along a stretch known as the Ring of Fire. Mexico and parts of Central America are more prone to earthquakes due to its location on the border of two tectonic plates. Many of these volcanoes are still active and their eruptions impact global weather.

Central America and the Caribbean contain some of the world's richest habitats for flora and fauna. No fewer than 4,000 different species of native flowering plants are found within the borders of Belize. Belize is also home to the Baboon Sanctuary - dedicated to protecting the black howler monkey population. Over 70 percent of the country is under some kind of forest cover - the colonial history of Belize centers around its logging industry. Panama has far less forest cover but an incredible array of plants and animals. Panama is unique in that it has highly developed urban areas and dense tropical jungles located in close proximity. Guatemala has unique flora and fauna due to its interesting climate. More than 8,000 species of plants can be found in Guatemala - much of it in its tropical moist forest environment. A tropical moist forest environment is different from a rainforest due to the fact that they have a dry season every year. Guatemala has 19 ecosystems with 250 species of mammals, 600 species of birds, 200 species of reptiles and amphibians and many species of insects. The Caribbean also has a great amount of diversity. It has more than 13,000 plant species, most of which are tropical vegetation. The Caribbean region contains approximately 1,000 fish species and more than 90 different types of mammals, including whales and seals. There are also more than 500 types of reptiles, including many types of iguanas. The importance of the development of agriculture in these fertile lands cannot be overstated. Agriculture is a prerequisite for the development of civilization. Mesoamerica was an area of great diversity, with sufficient rainfall for crops. A variety of crops existed wild in the area and were domesticated to feed the growing population. Maize was probably one of the first crops domesticated by native Indian groups of Central America and then served as the basis of their diet for centuries. Although yams are quite popular in modern times, true yams were considered a "famine" food and were not eaten unless absolutely necessary. Chiles (known as aji in the Caribbean) were prevalent as were fruits like papaya, guava, and pineapple. Historically, papaya was eaten and it served double duty as a meat tenderizer. Tomatillos, or husk tomatoes, probably originated in Central America, and continue to be a popular food. Once you remove the paper thin husk from around the fruit, you can eat it raw, put it in a delicious salsa verde (green salsa) or cook it! Although indigo was not eaten, this plant, known for providing the "Mayan blue" color seen in ancient pottery, became a major commercial crop (for the dye) during the colonial period.

Panama is home to 15 national parks, 10 wildlife sanctuaries and about a dozen forest reserves. These protected areas take up about 30 percent of the country's land mass. Scientists have estimated that there are over 10,000 species of vascular plants in Panama. Vascular plants have tubes in their roots, stems and leaves to carry water and food. The Panama Canal Rainforest covers over 50,000 acres and includes over 100 species of mammals, over 520 species of birds, and over 120 species of reptiles and amphibians. The animal species includes six or seven types of monkeys. The Night Monkey is Panama's only nocturnal monkey.

Although Central America encompasses a relatively small area, the topography and physical environment of Central America is interesting to study because of its diversity. The geography of Central America is unique due to its interesting combination of rugged mountains, heavy vegetation, and the influence of two major oceans. The dominant feature of the northern part of Central America is the Sierra Madre Range, spreading east from Mexico between the narrow Pacific coastal plain and the limestone lowland of the Yucatan Peninsula. Parallel hill ranges sweep across Honduras and extend south, past the Caribbean Mosquito Coast to lakes Managua and Nicaragua. A highly active volcanic belt runs along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Costa Rica. The topography of the area greatly varies from volcanic mountains, the Highlands, to the rainforests in the Lowlands. Savannas and swamps appear sporadically. The Lowlands also have drier forests. Farmers continue to practice slash and burn agriculture, causing incredible fires that create heavy, smoky skies. (In fact, NASA has been trying for decades to take accurate topographical satellite images of the area and has faced much difficulty due to the consistent cloud and smog cover.) The rains of May do usually clear the murky atmosphere. The forces of nature coupled with human action, such as slash and burn farming practices and deforestation, interact with such incredible interplay in this region like no other place on earth. The interplay of human behavior and a dynamic region has led to more mudslides, for example, due to soil erosion due to the deforestation from farmers. We will discuss this issue in greater depth in the next sections. While discussing the incredible flora and fauna of the region and the extensive jungle cover, it is easy to forget the beautiful beaches of Central America and the Caribbean. The climate of the area is mostly tropical and subtropical, making the region perfect for a good tourist industry, and the beaches stretch for miles.

The Caribbean is located within the Caribbean Sea, which is covered in coral reefs. One of these reefs is the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Cays are generally synonymous with the Caribbean. Cays form on the coral reefs off the coast of Central America as a result of wave action. Wave action also does its share of damage to the region, causing beach erosion and reshaping the coastline. The Caribbean climate varies from dry tropical savannah in northern islands like Cuba to tropical rainforest in the southern islands from Jamaica to Trinidad. Most Caribbean islands are at sea level, but the area does have mountain ranges, such as the Cordillera Central in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The Cordillera Central is the highest mountain range in the region.

Mesoamerica literally means "middle America" when translated from Greek. The term Mesoamerica refers to a political and geographical region extending south and east from central Mexico to include parts of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In pre-Columbian times, it was inhabited by diverse civilizations, including the Maya and the Olmec. The history of human occupation in Mesoamerica is divided among a number of stages, or periods. On the next page, you will complete a WebQuest to learn a little more about the government and systems of these periods. Until the 1900s, the Maya were thought to be the parent culture of Mesoamerica. However, it was discovered that the first signs of complex society in Mesoamerica are actually that of the Olmec. The Olmec flourished approximately during the years from 1400 BCE to about 400 BCE. They laid many of the foundations for the civilizations that followed. The most familiar aspect of the Olmec is their artwork, particularly the aptly named colossal heads. The colossal heads are the most recognized symbol of Olmec culture. It is unclear why the Olmec civilization died out by around 400 BCE, but by that point there were other Mesoamerican cultures thriving in the region. The Maya civilization began at some point around the time of the decline of the Olmec, and it reached its highest point of development between the years of 250 and 900 CE. Many Maya ruins lie deep within the jungles of Mexico and Guatemala. The Maya civilization is known for having the first fully developed written language as well as a mathematical and astronomical system. The third most important civilization of Mesoamerica was the Aztecs. The Aztecs achieved dominance over large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. One intriguing feature of the Aztec civilization was their tradition of human sacrifice. The fall of the Aztecs came at the hand of the Spanish conquerors in the 16th century. War and disease decimated the population.

The Central American region has long faced economic difficulties for a variety of reasons. Political unrest, natural disasters, and a history of poverty have plagued the area for centuries. Although the nations of Central America are small, their history is deep. Today the economy of Central America is primarily based on agriculture and tourism. The United States is the main trading partner of the region; this overreliance on the United States to buy Central American exports has been a detriment to the growth of the area. As the markets in the United States contract due to financial turmoil and recession, the economies of Central America are greatly affected, primarily because the sale of exports from the region are drastically reduced. Each country of Central America has a distinct economic situation - most of them unfavorable. However, some countries have weathered tumultuous political and economic situations better than others. Nicaragua is the poorest country in Central America and the second poorest country in Latin America, after Haiti. Honduras, the second poorest country in Central America. It has an extraordinarily unequal distribution of income and high unemployment. The economy relies heavily on a narrow range of exports, notably bananas and coffee, making it vulnerable to natural disasters and shifts in the price of goods. Costa Rica has done substantially better economically than its Central American neighbors. A country with no army, Costa Rica has worked hard to put money into its education system and environmental endeavors. Unfortunately, due to its open borders and better economic situation, the social service system of Costa Rica is overwhelmed with impoverished immigrants - many from Nicaragua. In recent years, community groups in the United States and elsewhere have been granting microloans to entrepreneurs in Central American countries to help reduce poverty and improve their economic situation. A microloan is just what it sounds like - a very small loan - maybe only $100. This loan is generally made to a person experiencing poverty who does not have the requirements necessary to secure a loan from a bank. The people who receive microloans are generally people who do some type of handcraft or have a very small independent business. Microloans have been referred to as loans that change lives. It is interesting to note that many more women than men are the recipients of microloans. The number of microloans has substantially increased in recent years and is expected to keep growing.

The growth of tourism and creation of new hotels and marinas in Central American and Caribbean nations has destroyed huge areas of natural habitats. The creation of these tourist spots has led to beach erosion and the removal of natural vegetation in favor of golf courses, ornamental trees, and new roads. The lack of proper planning when creating these tourist destinations has transformed the landscape of the Caribbean islands and areas of Central America. In an effort to reduce poverty, bolster its economy, and remain environmentally responsible, Costa Rica has led the way in promoting ecotourism. Ecotourism is a form of tourism that encourages travelers to learn more about the country's natural wonders and to respect the environment in the course of their exploration. In recent years, the number of ecotourism trips has skyrocketed. Ecotourism is currently the fastest growing sector of the world's largest service industry, tourism. While environmentalists are weighing the pros and cons of ecotourism, many developing nations are looking to cash in on the growing demand for this new trend in travel. The developing nations of Central America, with its cloud forests, active volcanoes, and wide variety of flora and fauna, appear ideally situated to take advantage of the growing demand for ecotourism with Costa Rica leading the pack. The problem is that there is no way to check that a company offering an eco-friendly vacation is really eco-friendly. There is really limited government follow-up to ensure that the trips are not harming the environment. In the quest for profit, the potential is enormous for allowing ecotourism to actually do more damage to the environment. By allowing unlimited numbers of tourists into protected areas and encouraging the construction of high-rise hotels and resorts over small-scale tourism development, ecotourism industries, such as Costa Rica's, could be on the path to self-destruction. Is flying in planeloads of tourists, bringing with them the associated environmental pollution, really perpetuating eco-consciousness? Many conservationists take aim at the exploitation of the ecotourism label for this very reason. Much like the debate over fair trade, the debate over ecotourism has strong arguments on both sides. Most people would agree that the best way to increase the availability of ecotourist trips is to increase the amount of protected lands, parks, and conservation areas - not increase the hotels, planes, and tour busses. The trajectory of fair trade and ecotourism have been similar; although both ideas were initially designed to promote the protection of the environment and be profitable for the community, most often the people of the country experiencing poverty feel absolutely no positive effect from it. In response to the continued subjugation of the indigenous people and those stuck in a cycle of poverty, some people have begun to promote the idea of trade justice instead of free trade or fair trade. Trade justice means that the practice must be skewed to benefit those most in need as well as the environment.

The creation of the Panama Canal cut the shipping time in half for ships traveling between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. How many people died during the construction of the Panama Canal? 22,000 A typical passage through the Panama Canal takes how long? 8 - 10 hours

European Colonization• During the Age of Exploration, European countriesestablished colonies in Central America• Mostly controlled by Spain• Conquistadors:• Spanish "explorers" that acted more as conquerors• Goals: Find gold, convert natives to Christianity, acquireland for Spain• Used superior weaponry and underhanded tactics towipe out native populations The AztecEmpire• The Aztecs were a very powerful empire inthe middle of Central America• They controlled a large chunk of what ismodern day southern Mexico• Warrior race who enjoyed battle• Worshipped many gods, especiallyQuetzalcoatl (feathered serpent god)• Tenochtitlan• Capitol of the Aztec Empire• Built in the middle of a lake (great for defenseagainst invaders) Hernan Cortes• Spanish conquistador who discovered the AztecEmpire while trying to trade with natives• Initially friendly with the Aztecs because theybelieved Cortes to be Quetzalcoatl but becamesuspicious of a trap• Attacked Montezuma II and ransacked their capitol• Aztecs had 3 times as many soldiers than the Spaniards• Spaniards had other advantages:• Horses, weaponry, disease (smallpox)

The economies, the government, and the very society of Central America have been transformed through transnationalization. International wars, including U.S. intervention, have played a part in shaping the economic as well as the political structure of Central America. Many would say that Europeans, and later the United States, exploited the fertile lands of the Central America region to suit their own financial interests. Forcing an agrarian lifestyle on Central America has been an important factor in its inability to progress. Although the Spanish were initially hoping for wealthy Native American villages to raid, they were quite disappointed. However, as they spent decades and then centuries controlling the land, they realized that the riches were not in gold or silver, but in the natural resources throughout the area and the fertile lands good for growing a multitude of crops. In 1916, the New York Times published an article, "The Banana Called A Weapon of Conquest." The author surmised that dominating a culture through its agriculture was not much better than dominating a culture through military might. In recent years, the practice of developed nations guaranteeing fair prices and ethical purchases from developing nations has been under discussion. This practice is known as fair trade. Although the practice began in the 1940s, it is still not widespread today. Fair trade is designed to help disadvantaged workers and farmers. The overarching goal is to reduce poverty. The practice originated with the purchase of handcrafts from Indigenous people, but has since spread to include food as well as the demand for handcrafts wore off. Hand-woven items and jewelry made with precious metals like cinnabar, jade, and hermatite, from the volcanic highlands, have been traded by the Maya for centuries. The rivers of the Lowlands allowed for the transportation of goods as well as people. In modern times, the practice of fair trade has allowed for these goods to continue to be sold - now around the world! Fair trade allows the artists or weavers or jewelers to set the price they want to receive for the product. It eliminates the exploitative nature of businesses coming in, buying a large quantity of goods for a very small price, and then reselling them on the international market.

Poverty is an issue of local, national, and global importance. Poverty is one of the very important issues on which the G7 Summit focuses its attention every year. In 2020, over 6 million children (16 percent of children in the United States) were living in poverty. Children represent a disproportionate share of the poor in the United States; they are 25 percent of the total population, but 35 percent of the poor population. Over 44 million people live in Central America, and over half of them are experiencing poverty. The lowest levels of social development are seen in El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, where the proportion of the population living in poverty - as measured by the possibility of satisfying basic needs - is over 60 percent. In the seven countries of Central America, rural people are twice as likely to be experiencing poverty as their urban neighbors. The situation is especially grim in Honduras and Nicaragua, where 45 percent of children live in extreme poverty, deprived of the resources required to meet even minimum nutritional needs. No Central American country has any type of long-term, organized plan to reduce or eliminate extreme poverty in their country. Any programs that are instituted are generally short-term and are only promoted around the time of presidential elections. Most plans are also generally tainted by the corruption present throughout most of Central American government. Although Central America has experienced an increase in gross domestic product (GDP) year to year, there has been no comparable reduction in poverty levels or any increase in employment and education. Poverty in Central America and the Caribbean continues to grow in spite of the growth in tourism. In fact, the disparity between tourists and locals is often shocking. Caribbean islands, for example, celebrate sand, sun, and service--in resorts that operate in fenced-off compounds. Tourists arrive on a chartered airplane, board a resort-owned bus, and drive by mile after mile of dire poverty - until they reach their destination - a little oasis of vacationland without a glimpse of the local poverty in sight. In countries like Guatemala, the disparity between locals and tourists is so great that the government recommends that tourists hire "guides" to accompany them on hikes around the beautiful country. The guides are equipped with maps and shotguns! More than forty years ago, President Lyndon Johnson declared a War on Poverty and committed the American people to a campaign against economic deprivation. Poverty is not just an issue of income; it represents a myriad of issues, including lack of health care, inadequate education, and poor nutrition. Poverty puts children in particular at an unfair disadvantage for future opportunities. Almost half the world — over three billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day. According to UNICEF, 26,500-30,000 children die each day due to poverty. In the developing world, there is a pattern of inequality caused by the powerful subjugating those experiencing poverty and keeping them dependent. Inequality is increasing around the world while the world appears to globalize. Even the wealthiest nation, the United States, has the largest gap between rich and those experiencing poverty compared to other developed nations. "246 million child workers aged 5 and 17 were involved in child labor, of which 171 million were involved in work that by its nature is hazardous to their safety, physical or mental health, and moral development. Moreover, some 8.4 million children were engaged in so-called 'unconditional' worst forms of child labor, which include forced and bonded labor, the use of children in armed conflict, trafficking in children and commercial sexual exploitation." Child labor is most commonly found in countries with large numbers of people in poverty. The practice of child labor insures that the cycle of poverty will continue in most of these countries. In Asia, 22% of the workforce is children. In Latin America, 17% of the workforce is children. Where do child laborers live? 61% in Asia 32% in Africa 7% in Latin America 1% in US, Canada, Europe and other wealthy nations

There are around one million stray dogs on the streets of Costa Rica, but since 2005, a no-kill shelter has worked to protect them. In a country where stray dogs are often treated cruelly, Territorio de Zaguates stands out for its compassionate care of over 1,000 dogs. It is the only such shelter in Costa Rica. In San Pedro la Laguna, Guatemala, single-use plastics threatened the ecosystem of the local lake so badly that the mayor passed a ban on plastics. The city financially and materially supported residents in the transition from disposable to reusable items. Today, new sustainability initiatives are underway, the lake is being restored, and tourism has increased. From 2007 to 2016, an enormous project to expand the historic Panama Canal was undertaken to allow bigger ships to cross the "highway of the sea" and revolutionize international trade. The canal sees around $270 billion of cargo pass through annually, and the expansion will allow the canal to handle even larger ships.

Central America encompasses an area of some 592,000 square kilometers. The Pacific Ocean lies to the southwest, the Caribbean Sea lies to the northeast, and the Gulf of Mexico lies to the north. Notice that every country of Central America touches water. Because Central America sits atop the Caribbean tectonic plate, the region experiences volcanoes and earthquakes from time to time. The benefit of this volcanic activity has been incredibly fertile soil due to the nutrient rich lava flows that have occurred over thousands of years. Belize and Guatemala are the two most northern countries of Central America. They both share a border with Mexico. Belize did not become an independent country until 1981. El Salvador is the smallest of the Central American countries in terms of area, but Belize is the smallest in terms of population. In fact, El Salvador has the highest population density, meaning that El Salvador has the largest number of inhabitants per square mile, in Central America and is the 33rd most densely populated country in the world. Panama is sometimes considered part of North America and sometimes considered part of South America due to the location of the Panama Canal that divides the country. Due to the fact that Belize was under the control of Great Britain for centuries, the country speaks English as its official language.

There are over 40 islands that make up the Caribbean. Four different nations—the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, and France—all own islands in the region. In this section, we will focus on five islands. Haiti Cuba Dominican Republic Puerto Rico Jamaica The Caribbean Islands separate the Caribbean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. Although the Bahamas are not traditionally considered part of the Caribbean, their 3,000 islands add to the allure of the region. The islands of Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico make up a group of islands known as the Greater Antilles. The Lesser Antilles are a group of much smaller islands and can be found to the east of the Greater Antilles. Haiti and the Dominican Republic make up the island of Hispaniola. The Dominican Republic has traditionally been dependent on the export of sugar and other agricultural products. More recently, the Dominican Republic has become the most popular tourist destination in the Caribbean, and tourism is now the country's second most important source of foreign exchange, after sugar. Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles. Cuba is also one of the last truly Communist countries in the world. Christopher Columbus was the first European to arrive in the Caribbean. When he landed, he thought he had arrived in Asia and so called the area the Indies. After World War II, the area became more commonly referred to as the Caribbean.

Scientists estimate that Central America produces less that 0.5% of the planet's carbon dioxide, but it is one of the most vulnerable regions to the effects of climate change. Some researchers predict that droughts will intensify as will hurricanes, due to rising atmospheric temperatures and sea levels. Global warming impacts every level of life in a region. For example, record high sea temperatures lead to more powerful hurricanes as well as the decline of coral reefs. In the Monteverde Cloud Forest of Costa Rica, frogs and toads have been disappearing. A reduction in dry-season mists due to warmer Pacific Ocean temperatures has been linked to disappearances of 20 species of frogs and toads, upward shifts in the ranges of mountain birds, and declines in lizard populations. The climate of Central America strongly affects social and economic conditions in the region through its impacts on agriculture, tourism, and human health. The impacts of the 1997-98 El Niño weather in Central America provide examples of what future climate warming may bring. During that year, forest fires raged out of control and high sea surface temperatures bleached the coral reefs in adjacent seas. The future might also see even more changes in the frequency of extreme events such as hurricanes, floods, and droughts, and these events may damage important export crops such as bananas, threaten human settlements on unstable hillsides, and allow for the outbreak of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.

There are over 44 million people in Central America. Mestizos, people of mixed Native American and European heritage, and Amerindians, also known as Native Americans, make up 5/6 of the population of the region