ABSTRACT
Latin America faces serious environmental problems, including deforestation, pollution from industry, mining and motor vehicles, soil and pasture degradation, siltation of dams and waterways, misuse of pesticides, and contamination of water supplies by human wastes. Concern for the environment has grown measurably in Latin America over the last fifteen years, and has brought together a wide variety of social forces with different interests and motivations. This chapter discusses the strengths and weaknesses of different types of groups which have promoted environmentally friendly policies. It analyses the degree to which the region's current emphasis on export promotion, trade liberalization, and reduced public sector participation in the economy is compatible with different environmental policies. The chapter explains the relationship between the type of political regime in each country and the opportunities for environmental improvements. Through this analysis, it seeks to lay the framework for identifying possible alliances, substantive proposals, and institutional arrangements which can form the basis for successful environmental reform.
