Around the world
The survival of many animals around the world is threatened by rapid climate change.
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Educational scenario
Biodiversity, ecosystems and climate change
“Yet, despite our many advances, our environment is still threatened by a range of problems, including global climate change, energy dependence on unsustainable fossil fuels, and loss of biodiversity.”
Learn
Biodiversity is at the heart of human cultural, economic and social well-being. However, man-made changes in ecosystems and the extinction of plant and animal species have been faster in the last half century than at any time in human history.
Environmental change caused by climate change is disrupting natural habitats and is having a strong impact on plant and animal species. There are indications that rising temperatures, along with changing rainfall patterns, extreme weather events and ocean acidification, are putting pressure on biodiversity, which is already threatened by other human activities such as urbanization, pollution, deforestation and commercial fishing.
Read
Read the parable "A Walk on the Beach" to your students.
Discuss: How each of us could contribute to the protection of plants and animals around our home, in our area, in our homeland (suggest ideas and, if possible, discuss them with other members of your family).
A Walk on the Beach
My favorite places
Divide the class into small groups and have each group discuss:
- What are the favorite places to visit: beaches, mountains, meadows or forests?
- Are some of these places already affected by climate change, and if so, how?
- What happens to the plants and animals that live there?
Ask each group to present the results of the group discussion to the class.
If it is not far from the school, visit one of the places where there is information that the effects of climate change have already being observed. Take photos or drawings, describe in more details what you have seen and organize an exhibition in a prominent place in the school building or in another public place where more people from the local population will become familiar with the results of your research.
Endangered animals
The survival of many animals in different countries and continents is threatened by rapid climate change. Use the world map, to familiarize yourself with some of the animal species already affected. Discuss some of the examples shown in the videos by answering the questions:
- Which of these animals is your favorite and why?
- Where does it live?
- How has climate change threatened it?
- What can be done to help the endangered animal?
Draw a picture of the animal you have chosen and explain what you have learned about it.
Environmentalists play a major role in civil society. Their efforts are making a particularly important contribution to addressing some of the most pressing global challenges, from biodiversity loss to climate change. Many conservationists work tirelessly to force the elected officials to create and implement policies and programs to protect the world around us.
Discuss with students the information provided in Worksheet Profession Environmentalist. How would you comment on the phrase «Think globally, act locally»
Profession Environmentalist
Watch
Show the class the video “How does climate change affect animals?". Discuss the following questions:
- How do changes in vegetation caused by climate change affect animals? Discuss why the higher temperature in the areas koalas live makes it difficult to feed themselves.
- What forces animals to move towards the poles or climb higher in the mountains?
- How does the invasion of certain pests affect forests?
- What are the pessimistic predictions about the fate of plant and animal species, if climate change continues?
Assign students to independently watch the YouTube video “Can wildlife adapt to climate change?". Ask them to briefly describe their thoughts and feelings about the content of the video. Discuss in class what you have seen and learned.
Research
As a continuation of the activities related to the biodiversity videos, explore whether there are similar trends in your area for:
- permanent changes in ecosystems;
- displacement of the habitats in which native species usually live;
- invasion of pests atypical for the area, which are a scourge for the local species.
Briefly describe the results of your research, present them to the class, and look for some means to inform the local public about the changes in biodiversity due to climate change.
Do research on the species in your home region that are known to be vulnerable to climate change. Talk to experts for more information. Ask, if any measures are taken to protect these species. Create information materials, make publications and find out if you or the public can help to preserve them by spreading information, collecting donations or volunteering.
Adaptation of local animals
Different animals have evolved over many years, adapting to the environment in which they live.
Divide the class into small groups and let each group think for ten minutes and choose an animal from the local fauna, trying to imagine how that animal would adapt to changing conditions, if:
- a permanent increase in the average annual temperature is registered and unusual recurrent droughts occur or
- strong extreme weather events such as strong storms, floods or forest fires become more frequent.
Ask each group to choose a representative for sharing the brainstorming results with the class. Have the students draw pictures representing the adaptation of their animals to the changing environment.
Marsh pansy conservation
Organize the role-play as a press conference where the need to protect a critically endangered species - the marsh pansy1 - will be presented. Identify four specialists - a botanist, a bio-geographer, an environmentalist and a biological defense expert. Familiarize them with the contents of Worksheet. The rest of the students can take on the roles of representatives of environmental organizations, citizens and the media. The role of presenter of the press conference can be given to a student or it can be taken by the teacher. Organize the study space in an appropriate way, make signs or badges with names and positions.
Begin with the presentation of information about the marsh pansy by the experts, then allow for discussion and input from the rest of the participants.
After the role play is over, debrief the activity. It is good for the participants to share their views and whether they are satisfied with the result.
1 - The species data are taken from the Red Book of Bulgaria. Another regionally important and endangered species can be chosen for the role play.
