Did you know that centuries ago, chocolate, coffee, corn and potatoes all originally came to us from Spanish-speaking countries? All of the world’s leading coffee producers are located in Central and South America, including Brazil, a Portuguese-speaking country. Large sugar and banana plantations are also common in these regions. However, since land is more fertile in some places than in others, and ranges from being very moist to desert-like, not all of the land is perfectly suited for agriculture.

But what does the future look like? One of the most pressing environmental problems in some areas is called “deforestation.” Do you know what that means? If not, can you guess? De-forestation is literally the destruction of the forests, known as las selvas in Spanish. The rainforests are being cut down for their lumber and at times also for the raising of cattle and other livestock. Not only do the trees give off oxygen for us, and take in carbon dioxide, they also form a protective layer over the forest that keeps the animals and vegetation safe. When the protective roof of the forest is destroyed, the nature that exists below it suffers greatly. Native inhabitants are also affected, as they must be on the move to find the food and shelter they need to survive.

What do you think can be done about the problems facing the tropical forests?