Enviroment

NIVEL : Primer Año de Bachillerato Virtual


GRUPO : 04

TUTORA : Ruth Elizabeth Hernández

PERÍODO : Cuarto

MATERIA : EnglishUNIDAD 6 : “The Environment In El Salvador”

TRABAJO INDIVIDUAL: The Environment In El Salvador

ALUMNO : Rubís Manuel Ruiz Benítez

FECHA DE ENTREGA :16 de Agosto de 2009

THE ENVIRONMET IN EL SALVADOR

Because of heavy cutting, the forest resources of El Salvador had been reduced to about 6% of the total area by 1996. Forty-five percent of thewood taken from the forests is used for fuel. Peasant farmers burn the small trees and other growth on the hillsides to plant corn and beans, thus hastening the erosion of the topsoil. Seventy-fivepercent of the land area in El Salvador is threatened by erosion and desertification at a rate of 20 tons per hectare per year.
The government enacted forestry conservation measures in 1973, but theyhave had little effect on the rate of deforestation. Among the environmental consequences of forest depletion, in addition to loss of soil fertility, are diminution of groundwater resources anddrastic loss of native flora and fauna. Pollution is widespread and restrictions on waste disposal, including disposal of toxic waste, are lax. El Salvador's cities produce over 0.5 million tons of solidwaste per year. By 1993, 90% of El Salvador's rivers were polluted. Safe drinking water is available to 91% of the urban population and 64% of the rural dwellers. Forty-six percent of the nation's 17.7cu km of renewable water sources is used for agricultural purposes. There is no comprehensive national law controlling environmental protection, and the legislation that is on the books is poorlyenforced. The National Environmental Protection Committee, established by decree in 1974, has had little impact.
The pollution of the environment in El Salvador is a serious threat to the survival of...