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South America's Environmental Crucible: Deforestation Drops, Illegal Mining Surges, and Water Woes Intensify
Environment
This set of questions delves into the latest environmental news from South America, focusing on significant policy shifts, conservation efforts, climate challenges, and the ongoing battle against illegal activities impacting the region's vital ecosystems.
South America
Deforestation
Illegal Mining
Climate Change
Biodiversity
Water Scarcity
Renewable Energy
14 Questions
Hard
Ages 5+
Jun 22, 2026
About this Study Set
This study set covers Environment through
14 practice questions.
This set of questions delves into the latest environmental news from South America, focusing on significant policy shifts, conservation efforts, climate challenges, and the ongoing battle against illegal activities impacting the region's vital ecosystems. Every question includes the correct answer so you can learn as you go — pick any format above to get started.
Questions & Answers
Browse all 14 questions from the
South America's Environmental Crucible: Deforestation Drops, Illegal Mining Surges, and Water Woes Intensify study set below.
Each question shows the correct answer — select a study format above to practice interactively.
1
According to recent data processed by the Amazon Regional Observatory (ARO) of ACTO, what was the approximate percentage decrease in forest area impacted by deforestation and degradation in the Amazon between 2024 and 2025 across the eight ACTO member countries?
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A
Approximately 60%
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B
Approximately 40%
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C
Approximately 25%
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D
Approximately 75%
2
In Peru's central Amazon region, as of mid-2025, what was the total reported gold mining deforestation in hectares, with the vast majority occurring in the Madre de Dios region?
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A
139,169 hectares
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B
98,750 hectares
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C
175,500 hectares
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D
50,000 hectares
3
Argentina's Renewable Energy Law (27.191) set a target for renewable sources to contribute what percentage of electricity by the end of 2025? Despite recent growth, what was the approximate share of renewables in actual electricity demand coverage as of May 2025?
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A
20% target, approximately 16.3% coverage
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B
15% target, approximately 10.1% coverage
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C
25% target, approximately 20.5% coverage
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D
10% target, approximately 8.2% coverage
4
A report from the European Commission's Joint Research Centre indicated that between November 2023 and October 2024, which two major South American river basins faced particularly severe drought conditions and extreme heatwaves?
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A
Amazon and La Plata basins
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B
Orinoco and Paraguay basins
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C
São Francisco and Paraná basins
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D
Magdalena and Cauca basins
5
In the Brazilian Amazon, specifically within Indigenous Lands in the Xingu River Basin, how many hectares of forest were deforested due to illegal mining between January and September 2025, according to a study?
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A
335 hectares
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B
750 hectares
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C
150 hectares
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D
500 hectares
6
According to a report published in Environmental Research Letters in March 2025, artisan gold mining in the southern Peruvian Amazon has caused more destruction to carbon-rich peatlands in the past two years than in the preceding how many decades combined?
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A
Three decades
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B
Two decades
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C
Four decades
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D
Five decades
7
In 2024, the El Niño phenomenon intensified wildfires in the Amazon, leading to an increase in forest degradation. Approximately what percentage of the Amazon was affected by degradation driven by wildfires, logging, and drought during 2024, with degradation increasing at roughly three times the rate that deforestation declined?
8
During the XXIV Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean in October 2025, countries adopted an updated Regional Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration and Water Security. What is a key outcome expected from this plan?
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A
Strengthen resilience to droughts and desertification
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B
Increase fossil fuel exploration
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C
Promote large-scale monoculture farming
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D
Reduce protected areas
9
In Chile, the implementation of the REP (Extended Producer Responsibility) Law seeks to promote the circular economy. What is the core principle of this law?
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A
Making producers responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products
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B
Subsidizing single-use plastic production
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C
Mandating government-funded waste disposal
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D
Eliminating product warranties
10
Regarding illegal gold mining in Peru, a report highlighted in October 2025 that as of mid-2025, gold mining had caused a total of approximately how many hectares of deforestation across the Peruvian Amazon since 1984?
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A
139,169 hectares
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B
50,000 hectares
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C
250,000 hectares
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D
90,000 hectares
11
As of May 2025, Argentina had surpassed 7,133 MW of installed renewable energy capacity. Despite this growth, it remained significantly short of its 2025 target for renewable share in electricity demand, which was approximately what percentage?
12
In 2024, forest degradation surged significantly across the Pan-Amazon region. What was the approximate percentage increase in forest degradation compared to the 2019–2023 annual average, largely driven by fire activity?
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A
Over 400%
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B
Over 100%
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C
Over 700%
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D
Over 200%
13
Peru's government approved the National Biodiversity Strategy (ENDB) to 2050 in October 2024. How many strategic objectives does this strategy establish?
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A
Five
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B
Three
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C
Seven
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D
Ten
14
In 2024 and 2025, illegal mining in the Yanomami Indigenous Territory in Brazil showed a significant reduction in land impact compared to 2022. Approximately how many hectares were impacted in 2024 and 2025, down from about 1,800 hectares in 2022?
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A
129 hectares
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B
500 hectares
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C
300 hectares
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D
700 hectares
