What is the value of biodiversity

What is the value of biodiversity?

= ?

Different people have different opinions:

What is the value of nature? (watch)

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?

There are numerous environmental perspectives.

It’s controversial, but in 1992 a group of world leaders made a decision.

"Eye on the Earth Summit" (quick clip)

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/

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.

“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

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.

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

Presentation Criteria:

(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

10 minute presentation +

questions

**Though you are creating your campaign with a group, you will be individually

assessed.**

Here is a link to the

assignment sheet

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

How will you be assessed?

Task

Assessment Category

Notes

Points

Full Team

Introduction and

Conclusion

Knowledge and

Understanding

/10

Full Team

Ecosystem overview

Knowledge and

Understanding

/10

Ecologist

(Analyze the

ecological

value of the

ecosystem)

Accurate and relevant

information

Knowledge and

Understanding

/10

Identifies trends,

relationships and

patterns

Application and Analysis

/10

Includes data, stats or

photos as support

Application and Analysis

/10

Presentation Skills Transdisciplinary Skills

/10

Full Team

Works Cited List Transdisciplinary Skills

/10

Investor

Donation Report Synthesis and Evaluation

/10

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.

Ecosystem Options:

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 )

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 )