2. Environmental Issues in Rural Settlements,

Case Study 1: Deforestation and Soil Erosion – Amazon Rainforest, Brazil

Theories and Perspectives Applied to Environmental Issues:

• Environmental Determinism (Semple, 1911) – Geographic conditions shape human activities.
• Core-Periphery Theory (Wallerstein, 1974) – Economic disparities drive environmental degradation.
• Dependency Theory (Frank, 1967) – Developing regions depend on global economic structures.
• Sustainable Development Theory (Brundtland, 1987) – Balancing economic growth with environmental conservation.

Models/Theories/Laws Applied:

• Deforestation Model – Examines the impact of forest clearance on ecosystems.
• Soil Erosion Framework – Evaluates the consequences of unsustainable agricultural practices.
• Systems Analysis Approach – Assesses environmental sustainability through multiple indicators.

Recent Data:

• Amazon Rainforest: Deforestation increased by 22% in 2023 due to illegal logging and agriculture.
• Soil Erosion Impact: Loss of topsoil affecting agricultural productivity and biodiversity.
• Policy Challenges: Weak enforcement of environmental regulations exacerbating deforestation.

Spatial Variation:

• Deforested Zones: High environmental degradation due to land clearance.
• Protected Areas: Moderate conservation efforts with reforestation initiatives.

Temporal Variation:

• Historical Trends: Deforestation accelerating since 1980s.
• Future Projections: Expected rise in conservation policies and sustainable land management.

Insight:

The Amazon’s environmental challenges validate Core-Periphery Theory, emphasizing the role of economic disparities in driving deforestation.

Case Study 2: Water Pollution and Habitat Destruction – Rural China

Theories and Perspectives Applied to Environmental Issues:

• Environmental Determinism (Semple, 1911) – Geographic conditions shape human activities.
• Core-Periphery Theory (Wallerstein, 1974) – Economic disparities drive environmental degradation.
• Dependency Theory (Frank, 1967) – Developing regions depend on global economic structures.
• Sustainable Development Theory (Brundtland, 1987) – Balancing economic growth with environmental conservation.

Models/Theories/Laws Applied:

• Water Pollution Model – Examines the impact of industrial and agricultural waste on water bodies.
• Habitat Destruction Framework – Evaluates the consequences of land-use changes on biodiversity.
• Systems Analysis Approach – Assesses environmental sustainability through multiple indicators.

Recent Data:

• Rural China: Untreated wastewater from agriculture and industry contaminating rivers and groundwater.
• Biodiversity Loss: Habitat destruction affecting endangered species.
• Policy Challenges: Limited enforcement of environmental regulations.

Spatial Variation:

• Industrial Zones: High pollution levels due to factory waste.
• Agricultural Areas: Moderate contamination from pesticide runoff.

Temporal Variation:

• Historical Trends: Water pollution worsening since 1990s.
• Future Projections: Expected rise in environmental protection policies.

Insight:

Rural China’s environmental challenges validate Dependency Theory, emphasizing the role of industrial expansion in driving pollution.