The Amazon Rainforest: A History of Exploitation, Development, and Conservation

The Amazon Rain forest is a vast and complex area that occupies parts of ninecountries in South America. In addition to its ecological importance
it is also home to millions of people. Most of these people are
immigrants who were encouraged to move into the forest for “economic
development,” but many are Native to the region. This presentation
will examine the historical and present-day threats to the Amazon rain forest and to the Native peoples who live there. The talk will
identify the major waves of extraction and “development” that led
to the marginalization of Native groups and it will explain the most
important conservation efforts underway in the region. Our guest presenter is Brad
Jokisch, Associate Professor of Geography at Ohio
University.Sponsored by the Friends of the Athens Public Library.