Environmental Issues in South America

Argentina
Current Issues: erosion resulting from not enough flood controls and non-proper land use practices; irrigated soil degradation; desertification; uncontrolled air pollution in Buenos Aires and other towns and cities; water pollution; increased pesticide and fertilizer use

Natural Hazards: Subject to frequent earthquakes; violent windstorms that can strike the Pampas and northeast; flooding

Bolivia
Current Issues: the clearing of land for agriculture and commercial deforestation; overgrazing, poor cultivation methods and soil erosion; desertification; loss of biodiversity; and pollution

Natural Hazards: cold, thin air of high plateau causes inefficient fuel combustion, non-adjustment to high altitude pressure ; flooding

Brazil
Current Issues: deforestation ; air and water pollution in majority of town and cities; land degradation and water pollution.

Natural Hazards: frequent droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in the Southern Parts of the country

Chile
Current Issues: air and water pollution, untreated and raw sewage; deforestation and loss of biodiversity; soil erosion; desertification

Natural Hazards: severe and frequent earthquakes; volcanic activities; tsunami prone coatal regions

Colombia
Current Issues: deforestation; overuse of pesticides; air pollutionin the capital and other major cities, air pollution from vehicle emissions

Natural Hazards: frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes; periodic droughts

Ecuador
Current Issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution in all major populated areas

Natural Hazards: earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; ever increasing frequency of droughts

Guyana
Current Issues: water pollution,  untreated and raw sewage,  agricultural and industrial chemicals dumped without treatment; vast areas of deforestation
Natural Hazards: flash floods, heavy downpours

Paraguay
Current Issues: deforestation; water pollution; waste disposal problems, health risks for many urban and rural residents

Natural Hazards: frequent flooding in rainy seasons and poor drainage causes plains to become boggy

Peru
Current Issues: deforestation; overgrazing, soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in all major cities and towns; pollution of rivers and  waters, irresponsible dumping of municipal and mining wastes

Natural Hazards: earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides,  some volcanic activities time to time.

Suriname
Current Issues: deforestation due to commercialization of timber resources

Natural Hazards: Tropical flash floods

Uruguay
Current Issues: pollution frequently originating from Brazil;  acid rain generated in neighboring industrialized countries; water pollution; improper solid/hazardous waste disposal

Natural Hazards: seasonally high winds , frequent droughts, floods;

Venezuela
Current Issues: sewage pollution of major cities; oil and urban pollution ; deforestation; soil erosion; urban and industrial pollution

Natural Hazards: floods, land and rock slides, mud slides; droughts