The promise of biofuels as a renewable, environmentally friendly energy source has driven a worldwide expansion in their production. However, many questions remain about how to produce biofuels without causing new and unanticipated environmental impacts. This report summarizes the environmental effects of biofuels, illustrate some uncertainties about these effects, and identify topics for an...
Climate change is affecting land, water, and biodiversity in a variety of ways. While managing ecosystems and resources by relying on an expected set of climate conditions may have worked in the past, a growing number of managers understand the need to develop new ways to manage ecosystems in the face of climate change. The purpose of this Issue is to provide a broad perspective on approaches for...
In two 4-6 week modules (case studies) students explore the influences of urban practices on the ecosystem health of the Chesapeake Bay. A field trip to the Anacostia River helps introduce the case study. In a jigsaw design, students first act as expert groups or stakeholders and then are assigned into different mixed groups. During each step of the process, students utilize social and natural...
Students use their ecological knowledge of soil processes, energy, water systems, and human interactions to compare the environmental impact of food production. Each group of 3-4 students develop life cycle analyses (LCA) for a single crop grown under different scenarios. As individuals, students are responsible for developing two LCA for that crop, and then together in their groups, they compile...
The short film Tree Tender (2016) follows a young woman, Gaia, becoming the newest Tree Tender, learning about the Tree of Life, the connections between all organisms on the Tree, the importance of understanding these connections, and the human-caused mass extinction currently occurring.
Note: Please read 01 Tree Tender Curriculum Bundle.pdf first.
Each of these major concepts are...