Episode Details

Two case studies focus on the interactions of humans and the environment in South America. First, two geographers employ high-tech methods to monitor volcanic activity in Ecuador, one of the world's most mountainous and volcanically active countries. The resulting public education campaign maps out a civil defense strategy to help people better prepare for potential eruptions. Next, a controversial ecologist uses principles of geography in an effort to find a balance between economic development and environmental conservation in the rainforests of the Amazon. H.J. de Blij comments on the Amazon as an example of deforestation around the world.