chapter - Atmospheric and Oceanic Science

the biodiversity of these ecosystems, particularly of their ichthyologic resources
conditioned by different fishing situations, which require a complete knowledge of
the operation and a common regulatory framework, beyond existing bi-national
agreements in place.
There is an environmental degradation caused by the intensive urbanization.
Population at La Plata basin is highly concentrated in cities. The capital cities of the
five countries, with the exception of Bolivia, are within La Plata basin, and these
urban concentrations need water for the domestic use. The incomplete treatment of
urban waste waters causes a deterioration of the quality of the water. The population
of the basin has grown from 61 millions in 1968 to 116 millions in 1994. The most
concentrated part is in small or medium size cities lacking the basic both social and
economic infrastructure. The possibility of a better life in the cities attracts poor people
from rural areas, where sometimes they can only find a place to live on the margins
of the rivers that are frequently flooded and degraded by debris.
Besides the effects of urbanization, the damage to the water resources can
also result from industrial waste waters and toxic spills in areas of intensive industrialization.
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