„Europe’s biodiversity and sustainability”

Introduction

This webquest is designed to educate students about biodiversity which is essential for the processes that support all life on Earth, including humans. Without a wide range of animals, plants and microorganisms, we cannot have the healthy ecosystems that we rely on to provide us with the air we breathe and the food we eat. 

Aims:

  • raise awareness of sustainability issues
  • review and enrich vocabulary related to biodiversity
  • identify the principles of sustainability in biodiversity
  • promote communication and collaborative skills
  • develop reading, speaking, digital literacy skills
Task

Your task for this webquest is to discuss about the given topics, collect information using internet resources and make a presentation. 

The purpose of this webquest is not to test your knowledge, but to raise your awareness about global issues that are of great threat, and realise that we as individuals are able to make great changes for today and near future. To use biodiversity in a sustainable manner means to use natural resources at a rate that the Earth can renew them. It's a way to ensure that we meet the needs of both present and future generations. As the human population increases, so does the pressure on ecosystems, since we draw ever more resources from them.

Please follow the process plan and activities assigned both for all teams in general and a team in particular.                                                                          

Wish you productive time in team work!

Process

Follow the steps below for the first process in your project. 

Step 1: Group discussion 

Watch the videos bellow:

https://youtu.be/JXyXzpxUNas?si=DQuymW4pANP9e5rD

https://youtu.be/A_0vBfBpFfQ?si=xiEJFp3F-O60K0eu

Choose at least 5 questions to discuss in your group. Feel free to think of your own questions on the topic “biodiversity”. Read and use the information related to „What is biodiversity?” by accessing the link bellow:

https://www.amnh.org/research/center-for-biodiversity-conservation/resources-and-publications/what-you-can-do

https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030_en

  1. What is biodiversity?
  2. Give some examples of biodiversity.
  3. Why do you think that biodiversity is it important for life?
  4. We can include humans and human cultural diversity as part of biodiversity?
  5. You are an animal lover?
  6. What are the threats to biodiversity?
  7. Do you think that we have the power to change our actions to help ensure the survival of species and the health and integrity of ecological systems?

Step 2                                                                                        

GROUP ACTIVITY 

Complete the table below, then discuss the other questions with your colleagues and teacher:

Topics

True 

False 

To live a more sustainable lifestyle:

  1. Cut trees and shrubs
  2. Choose green energy
  3. Adjust my termostat two degrees more
  4. Look for the Energy Star label
  5. Use cold water for washing clothes
  6. Unplug chargers
  7. Choose nonorganic food
  8. Choose imported food
  9. Increase my meet consumption
  10. Choose seafood wisely
  11. Reuse bottle for water and refill it at the tap
  12. Take longer showers
  13. Free-roaming domestic cats
  14. Increase night lighting

 

 

                                                                                   

STEP 3: Access the presentations bellow and discover the threats of biodiversity in various countries and what can we do to protect nature and biodiversity? Also, identify the role of Natura 2000 in Europe. Fill in the right answers in the worksheet bellow.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Vn__FvjGhfSBxOEDVg-1wkk8HfkGQHBU/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=117232953641895221818&rtpof=true&sd=true

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1nXa07MajLnAdh3XlWWGc8W3jHIzb2-TU/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=117232953641895221818&rtpof=true&sd=true

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1lzQjnypOCzv_1C4NJ0UtRwCwBxmF5gmE/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=117232953641895221818&rtpof=true&sd=true

WELL DONE. You are on the right track. Now you have gained more awareness of ways to be more sustainable!           

Great work! You are now at the last part of your project!!

Evaluation

Topic: “Biodiversity is key to buiding a sustainable future for all” 

TASK 1:  Photo gallery: Search for the pictures that best illustrate the topic. Give a title.                                                                                        

TASK 2: Analyse the given resources and make a short 2 min. PowerPoint presentation of your research.                                                                                                 

TASK 3: Discuss in group about the Natura 2000. Make a PowerPoint presentation with illustrations and be ready to present.                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                   

FEEDBACK/ SELF - ASSESSMENT

Answer the following  questions at the end of this workshop:

- How would you summarize activities of this workshop in a few words?

- What 3 new things have you learned today?

- What did you feel proud of yourself during the workshop?

- What did you find challenging?

- Is there something you would like to learn more about the topic yourself? 

Conclusion

Europe's biodiversity continues to decline at an alarming rate, with most protected species and habitats confronting poor conservation status. Much more effort is needed to reverse current trends and to ensure resilient and healthy nature.

Biodiversity underpins the provision of food, fibre and water; it mitigates and provides resilience to climate change; it supports human health, and provides jobs in agriculture, fisheries, forestry and many other sectors. Without effective measures to conserve biodiversity and use its components in a sustainable manner, the 2030 Agenda will not be achievable.

Credits

This webquest was created within the co-funded Erasmus plus KA229 partnership "Let's Go Green!", no 2021-1-RO01-KA220-SCH-000034430.

Teacher Page

The biodiversity strategy aims to put Europe’s biodiversity on the path to recovery by 2030 for the benefit of people, climate and the planet.

In the post-COVID-19 context, the strategy aims to build our societies’ resilience to future threats such as

-the impacts of climate change

-forest fires

-food insecurity

-disease outbreaks - including by protecting wildlife and fighting illegal wildlife trade

Actions

  • Establishing a larger EU-wide network of protected areas on land and at sea

  • Launching an EU nature restoration plan

  • Introducing measures to enable the necessary transformative change

  • Introducing measures to tackle the global biodiversity challenge