Geography Case Study: Urban Issues & Challenges - RDJ

Rio De Janeiro

A case study of a city which is NEE that has undergone large urban growth.

Rio De Janerio Location

• on the S.E coast of Brazil

• The atlantic is to the east of RDJ

• RDJ is close to Soa Paulo

• Rio sits just above the tropic of capricorn.

urban Growth in Rio

• Is an overall sharp population increase

• from 1950 to 2030 it is on track to have risen roughly over 10,000,000 people. from 3.5mill to 14mill

• 1 reason for population increase is prodominately young adults migrating so there is a high birth rate, but they are healthy so low deathrate.

• also push and pull factors apply meaning job opportunity cause people to move from rural → urban.

Why Is Rdj important

International

• Statue of christ the redeemer is one of seven wonders of the world → toursim

• Rio is a major port exporting mainly coffee, sugar and iron ore

• Rio significantly grown in last 50yrs to become major centre of industry and tourism.

National

• Is Brazils’ 2nd most important city for industry producing 5% of GDP

• 2nd largest city in brazil with 6.7million in centre of city after sao paulo.

Regional

• Many rural migrants are attracted to rio due to economic opportunites available our city.

• People come form Amazon basin for e.g. for opportunities not available in homeland.

Use of RDJ land

• south zone - tourists, copacabana beach, Rocinha favela and steep hills

• Cental - finance centre and offices

• West Zone - wealthy shopping malls and olympic stadium

• North Zone - favelas and industry, port and airport

RDJ challenges

social

• Crime rates are very high as favelas are controlled by gangs. High murder rate of 20 people in 1000. Many migrants from different areas result in gang rivalries.

• Education - compulsary from 6-14yrs… but only 50% continue on after that. instead many join gangs. Also kids leave school to get jobs to help support families.

• Poor Quality Housing - new arrivals resort to building their own houses form basic ruble and material they can find on land they dont own. Very unstalbe and dangerous - many built on hills and when rain results in land slide - 13000 lost home.

• lack of clean water - 37% is lost through leaky pipes, or illegal access. Taps are often located at bottom of hill and require many trips each day.

• Frequent Blackouts in the city due to electricity shortage. Many people in favelas get it illegally by tapping into mains supply which is unsafe and 30% of homes have no electricity.

• People cant afford health care so illness goes untreated. Therefore infant mortality is high ( 50 in 1000 die before 1 ) and age expentancy is 56.

RDJ challenges

Economic

• unemployment rates are over 20% in favelas

• Average income may be less the £75 a month

• Informal economy- most work in illegal cash in hand jobs e.g. cleaners or labourers or street vendors. they are poorly paid and steady income is not guarenteed.

Enviremental

• Air Pollution - causes 5000 deaths a year in rio and the city is covered in thick borwn smog due to traffic congestion and industry.

• due to favelas being illegal and unofficial there arent rubbish collectors so rubbish is piled up- attracts pests and disease eg cholera

• Guana bay is heavily polluted, poses a threat to wild life.

• over 200 tones of sewage poured into beach each day

• rivers polluted from surface runoof from open sewers of favelas.

Rocinha

largest favela in south America - located in RDJ

opportunities in place for favelas

social

• the electricity supply has been improved by installing 60km of new power lines and building a new nuclear power station

• self help schemes set up to provide local people with good quality materials to improve homes themself and may give the skills for employment

• dedicated drug squads sent in to clear out the slums

• 300km of water pipes laid to give more access to clean water

• free sports lessons in rocinha to takes young people out of situations of crime

opportunities in place for favelas

economic

• local government is using education to reduce youth unemployment

• courses are available for adults who already left education but want to continue improving employment prospects

• giving school grants to poor families to help meet cost of keeping kids in school.

Envirenment

• Ships are fined for discharging fuel into guanabara bay

• 5km of new sewage pipes been installed around badly polluted areas.

• 12 new sewage works have been built since 2004

• $125million spent on underground metro system under guanabara bay to reduce congestion.

favela bairre project - example of trying to improve lives of poor

• site and service scheme where the local authority provides land and services for residents to build homes.

• e.g complexo de Alemao ( N. of rio with 26000 people)

positives of project

• paved and formally named roads

• access to a water supply and drainage system for improved sanitation

• hillsides are secured to prevent landslides

• A pacifying police unit patrol to reduce crime

• installation of a cable car to commercial centre of Ipanema - inhabitants given a free return ticket a day

• credit to allow buying of materials to improve home.

Negatives of project

• the budget of US$1billion may not cover all favelas

• the newly built infrastructure not being maintained