3. What would your priority be?
Think back to the Kidlington Water Basin debate....
What were your priorities in
the ecosystem as a:
• politician?
• farmer?
• business owner?
• environmentalist?
5. "Eye on the Earth Summit" (quick clip)
It’s controversial, but in 1992 a group
of world leaders made a decision.
6. Convention on Biological Diversity
(1992)
• Created and adopted by governments at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio
de Janeiro, when world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy
for "sustainable development" – to meet current needs while ensuring
a living planet for future generations.
• Signed by 193 governments the CBD sets out commitments for
maintaining the world's biodiversity which directly supports the
livelihoods of billions and underpins global economic development.
• The Convention has 3 main goals:
• the conservation of biological diversity,
• the sustainable use of its components, and
• the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic
resources.
• For more info, visit: http://www.cbd.int/convention/
7. What is conservation?
Noun
1. The action of conserving something, in particular.
2. Preservation, protection, or restoration of the natural environment, natural ecosystems,
vegetation, and wildlife.
8. “What Kind of Future do you want?”
• "Rio+20" is the short name for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development which took place in Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil in June 2012 – twenty years after the landmark 1992 Earth Summit in Rio.
• The official discussions focussed on two main themes:
1. how to build a green economy to achieve sustainable development and lift people out of poverty
2. how to improve international coordination for sustainable development.
• AT Rio+20, more than $513 billion was pledged to build a sustainable future.
Link to brochure: http://www.un.org/en/sustainablefuture/pdf/conf_brochure.pdf
9. What is your ecosystem
worth?
You and your team are environmental activists tasked with devising a
campaign to help raise money to protect one of our world’s most valuable
ecosystems.
Your challenge is to create a campaign that is
informative and compelling so that you can
convince potential financial backers to donate
money to conservation efforts in your region.
Donors have up to $100,000 to contribute.
You will also play the role of the
donor, deciding which other
ecosystem to support.
10. You can not do this without considering multiple
perspectives on the worth of your ecosystem
though.
Different characters:
Your team will have 3 or 4 members:
1. Ecologist
- Looks at the relationships between living organisms and their natural environment
2. Environmental Anthropologist
- Examines the relationships between humans and their natural environment
3. Environmental Historian
- Studies change over time of the environment and changes in its relationship with humans
4. Conservation Biologist
- Studies methods of protecting Earth’s biodiversity
11. Here is a link to the Presentation Criteria:
assignment sheet
10 minute presentation +
questions
(all members) Provide a general overview of your ecosystem type and any characteristics unique to
your region
o Include a map of your region
(ecologist) Analyze the ecological value of the ecosystem
(environmental anthropologist) Analyze the human value of the ecosystem
(environmental historian) Discuss the reasons that the ecosystem has historically been and is
currently under threat
(Conservation biologist) Discuss ongoing conservation efforts, if any, and their level of
effectiveness.
(all members) Discuss the implications for the region if humans continue to adversely impact
the natural ecosystem and evaluate the decision to conserve or preserve the land.
(all members) Charts, Data, Statistics or photos that support your presentation
(all members) Works Cited List for all pictures and information
**Though you are creating your campaign with a group, you will be individually
assessed.**
12. Evaluation Criteria:
• As part of a new green initiative, your company has asked you to donate a
large sum of money to protecting threatened ecosystems. Your job is to listen
to multiple presentations about the status of current ecosystems around the
world and decide to which to donate money.
• You have a total of $100,000 dollars to donate. You may allocate all funding to
one ecosystem or you may split it up into several.
• To justify your choice, you will have to write a 300-400 word report on the
ecosystem (or ecosystems) of your choice discussing why this ecosystem is the
most in need of funds.
Here is a link to the
assignment sheet
14. Task Assessment Category Notes Points
Full Team Introduction and Knowledge and /10
Conclusion Understanding
Full Team Ecosystem overview Knowledge and /10
Understanding
Ecologist Accurate and relevant Knowledge and /10
(Analyze the information Understanding
ecological
value of the Identifies trends, Application and Analysis /10
ecosystem) relationships and
patterns
Includes data, stats or Application and Analysis /10
photos as support
Presentation Skills Transdisciplinary Skills /10
Full Team Works Cited List Transdisciplinary Skills /10
Investor Donation Report Synthesis and Evaluation /10
15. Project Schedule
Today: Intro to Ecosystems and Choosing a site
Day 1: Demo presentation and Research
Day 2: Research/Presentation Creation
Day 3: Presentation Creation and Practice
Day 4: Presentations
Note: You will have to do some research and
work at home to finish on time.
23. Ecosystem Choices
A. Mangroves (Philippines)
B. Coral reef (Great Barrier Reef)
C. Tropical forest (Sumatra)
D. Savannah (Kenyan Game Park)
E. River (Yangtze River Basin)
F. Rainforest (Amazon )
