Contextualization

Southern Brazil, composed by the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, is a region with high diversity of biomes, such as Atlantic Forest, Pampa and Araucaria Forest, and with an intense economic activity, which includes from family farming to high-tech industry. Each of these activities impacts in different ways the present biomes and brings different benefits and challenges to the local population.

In this project, we will delve into the complex web of relationships between the economy and the environment in the southern region, analyzing agricultural and livestock production, industry, tourism and other economic activities, their relationships with local biomes and the impacts on human populations. We will also explore how the natural and economic conditions of the region have contributed to its economic integration and to the development of its own and diverse culture.

Importance and real-world application

The economic integration and biomes of the Southern region are significantly relevant to the Brazilian and world economy, since it represents a significant share of the country's agricultural and industrial production. In addition, understanding the interrelation between economic activities and biomes is essential for the sustainable management of the territory, that is, to guarantee adequate living conditions for the current and future population without degrading the environment.

Sustainable management is also a principle that is gaining increasing relevance worldwide, as the environmental impacts of human activities become increasingly visible and threaten the survival of several species, including our own. Therefore, understanding the relationships between economy and environment is essential not only for the development of the south, but also for the entire planet.

Suggested resources

To begin this investigation, we recommend the following resources:

1. IBGE - Southern Region: Maps and information about the geographic division of Brazil.
2. Brazil Portal: General information about the Southern region.
3. Documentary: Stories of Southern Brazil - A documentary series that portrays the history of the formation of Southern Brazil.
4. Book: "O Sul e seus contrastes" by Valter Vinicius Costa Fritsch. Ed. Moderna, SP. Aprender Juntos Geography Collection.

Practical Activity

Activity title: "Interweaving Biomes and Economy in Southern Brazil"

Project Objective

The objective of this project is to stimulate investigation on the interaction between economic development and the conservation of biomes in the Southern region of Brazil. Students will be encouraged to explore the regional ecological configuration, the socioeconomic challenges and the relations of these elements with the environment.

Detailed Project Description

This project will be carried out by groups of 3 to 5 students. The suggested duration for the project is 4 weeks, considering that each student can dedicate about 3 hours per week to the work.

The groups will research and analyze the economic practices of the Southern region and their impacts on local biomes. The project will be structured in four stages:

1. Bibliographic review on the Southern region
2. Mapping of economic activities and biomes
3. Interdisciplinary analysis of economic and environmental impacts
4. Projection of future scenarios

Necessary Materials

1. Internet access for research
2. Presentation material (PowerPoint, Prezi, etc.)
3. Articles, books and documentaries about the Southern region of Brazil
4. Software for creating maps (Google Maps, OpenStreetMap)

Step by step

Stage 1: Bibliographic Review

The groups will do a bibliographic review on the Southern region, focusing on the predominant economic activities and existing biomes.

Stage 2: Mapping

Based on the bibliographic review, students will map the economic activities of each biome, identifying the main activities and their geographic distribution.

Stage 3: Interdisciplinary Analysis

Students will analyze the relationships between economic activities and biomes, considering the economic and environmental impacts. They should also discuss the social and cultural implications of these relationships.

Stage 4: Projection of Scenarios

Based on the analysis, the groups will make projections on possible future scenarios for the Southern region, considering the economic, social and environmental trends.

Project Delivery

After concluding the practical part, the groups must elaborate a final report, which will be divided into four main sections: Introduction, Development, Conclusions and Bibliography.

1. Introduction: Students should contextualize the southern region and the theme of the project, highlighting its relevance and real-world application, as well as the specific objectives of the project.

2. Development: This section should include a detailed description of the activities carried out and the results obtained. It should explain the methodology used and the research and analysis strategies adopted. Students should explain in detail the mapping of economic activities and biomes, the analysis of impacts and future projections.

3. Conclusions: Students should resume the main points of the project, review the most important findings and discuss what they learned with the project. They should express their own opinions and conclusions on the relationships between economy and environment in the Southern region.

4. Bibliography: The last section of the report should list all the sources that were used for the research and elaboration of the project.

Each group will do a final presentation of the work to the class, in which they will expose their findings, analyses and conclusions. The written report should complement the presentation and provide a more detailed and in-depth view of the work carried out.