Relationships between Nature and Human Use

Objective: This worksheet aims to educate students about the diverse ways humans interact with and utilize natural environments across different regions, with a particular focus on the concept of sustainable versus non-sustainable use and its consequences.

Content and methods: The worksheet begins by asking students to match various human uses (agriculture, tourism, fishing, etc.) to four major geographical regions: Savanna, Desert, Tropical Rainforest, and Polar Region. It then presents detailed information on specific examples of human interaction with nature in a specific region. These texts highlight the environmental, economic, and social impacts of each activity, contrasting unsustainable practices with sustainable ones. Students are tasked with identifying the disadvantages of non-sustainable use and suggesting improvements in a table. Finally, the worksheet prompts students to reflect on the necessity of sustainable use and the long-term dangers of not implementing it. An "Additional information for teachers" section provides a pre-filled table with detailed disadvantages and suggestions for improvement for each case study.

Competencies:

Geographical knowledge and classification
Understanding of human-environment interactions
Analysis of sustainability concepts
Problem-solving and proposing solutions for environmental challenges
Critical thinking about long-term consequences of human actions

Target group: Secondary school students

SDGs:

14th goal (“Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”): The worksheet addresses the risks of overexploitation of fish stocks in Greenland due to commercial trawling and highlights how such non-sustainable fishing practices threaten the marine ecosystem and the livelihoods of indigenous communities.
15th goal (“Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”): The material contrasts the ecological destruction and habitat loss caused by oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with the sustainable ecotourism model in Svalbard, which uses strict regulations to ensure that human activities do not disturb fragile habitats or local wildlife like polar bears.

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Target group and level

Grade 6 and above

Subjects

GeographySustainable Development Goals (SDG)

Preview

Relationships between Nature and Human Use

What's happening where?

Almost everywhere in the world, there is human activity in the form of agriculture, tourism, fishing, etc. Can you match the four regions with the ways they are being used?

Oil Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

In the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska, oil drilling operations are conducted with little regard for environmental sustainability. Companies like Chevron and ExxonMobil exploit the region for its rich oil reserves, leading to significant ecological destruction. The local economy sees a short-term boost from job creation and increased revenue, but the long-term effects are detrimental. The pristine wilderness is marred by oil spills, habitat destruction, and pollution, severely impacting native wildlife such as polar bears, caribou, and migratory birds. Indigenous communities, reliant on the natural environment for their traditional lifestyles, face displacement and loss of cultural heritage.

Oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge results in significant environmental damage and disruption to indigenous communities, with short-term economic benefits overshadowed by long-term ecological and social costs.

Fishing in Greenland

In Greenland, commercial fishing operations are conducted with some concerns for sustainability but remain largely exploitative. Companies employ trawling methods that can lead to overfishing and habitat damage. Although there are regulations in place, enforcement is often lax. The local economy benefits from the fishing industry, providing jobs and exports, but the long-term overexploitation of fish stocks threatens the marine ecosystem. Indigenous communities who rely on fishing for their livelihood face dwindling catches and increased competition from commercial entities.

Fishing in Greenland provides economic benefits and jobs but leads to the overexploitation of fish stocks and threatens the marine ecosystem, impacting indigenous communities reliant on fishing.

Ecotourism in Svalbard

In Svalbard, Norway, ecotourism is conducted in a highly sustainable manner. Local tour operators focus on minimizing their environmental footprint while offering guided wildlife tours and educational experiences. Strict regulations are in place to protect the fragile Arctic ecosystem, ensuring that tourism activities do not disturb local wildlife or habitats. The economy benefits from a steady influx of tourists, providing jobs and supporting local businesses. Indigenous and local communities are involved in the tourism industry, ensuring that their cultural heritage is respected and preserved. The natural environment remains largely undisturbed, allowing wildlife to thrive.

Ecotourism in Svalbard offers economic benefits and job creation while preserving the natural environment and respecting local communities, ensuring long-term sustainability.

Sustainable use

Read the information texts about the diverse use of natural areas and fill out the table: What disadvantages result from non-sustainable use? What possibilities can you think of to improve the use?

Additional information for teachers