Using GIS to Explore the Consequences of Agricultural Practices in the Amazon Rainforest

Abstract

Agriculture is one of the most expansive activities on Earth, touching almost every continent. From its very beginning in the Fertile Crescent of Ancient Mesopotamia, agriculture continues to shape the lives of humans and the landscapes of Earth. The paradox of agricultural production is that it can generate food to feed billions, yet it is a major contributor to climate change, exacerbating food insecurity around the globe. Nowhere is this paradox more apparent than in the Amazon Rainforest. According to the Amazon Conservation’s Monitoring of the Andean Amazon Project, deforestation has led to the loss of 2.1 million acres in 2020, with Brazil contributing 79% of the forest loss (Kimbrough 2021, 2). In this Advanced Placement Human Geography (APHG) lesson, students will use a geoinquiry approach to analyze maps and remotely sensed images to assess deforestation in the Amazon due to agricultural production and its impact on the region. Students will also examine the challenges of balancing the need for both environmental conservation and economic development in the Amazon Rainforest.