Lesson 9: Protecting the Environment Grade 7 Science Interactions in the Environment Ms. Willis

Protecting the Environment Learning Goals: Analyze and understand the cost and benefits of selected technologies for protecting the environment. Success Criteria I can explain some ways of protecting the environment I can describe advantages and disadvantages of these methods I can describe some ways that I can personally help in protecting our ecosystems.

Human Impact on Ecosystems Recall last day you took notes on some major ways that humans impact ecosystems: 1. Habitat Loss 2. Introducing Invasive Species Both of these conditions, caused by humans, can greatly affect biodiversity.

Human Impact on Ecosystems However, it is a reality that in our lifestyle we need land to build (habitat loss) and we travel (thus introducing invasive species). How much are we willing to give up in our lifestyle to help the environment? Herein lies the cause of many of the environment issues we are facing today!

Human Impact on Ecosystems BASIC NEEDS We depend on healthy ecosystems to meet our basic needs: to grow food, provide us with clean water, and to supply us with building material and clothing. We also need places to put waste and we use resources to provide us with energy for heating, transportation, manufacturing and many other things.

Human Impact on Ecosystems WANTS: We also use Earth’s resources to make many things that we want, but do not necessarily need. How much we take from nature depends on our daily habits, and the choices we make.

Human Impact on Ecosystems Ecological Footprint: a measure of human demand on Earth’s ecosystems. It estimates the amount of land and water needed to regenerate the resources a human consumes, as well as to absorb the waste produced. The more we consume, use and throw out, the larger our ecological footprint. The impact that humans have on the environment is the total of our individual footprints.

Human Impact on Ecosystems Check out this interactive website to compare our typical Canadian footprint with other parts of the world: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/human- footprint/consumption-interactive.html

Human Impact on Ecosystems North Americans have extremely large individual footprints. The average NA requires 12.4 hectares of Earth’s space to support his or her lifestyle. See the map on the next slide. Where are the heaviest “footprints” located?

Human Impact on Ecosystems

Human Impact on Ecosystems Let’s look at one example of the effect of human garbage: The effect of the garbage on animals

Human Impact on Ecosystems Over an average lifetime, EACH American will… Burn 124 000 litres of gasoline Read 5 054 newspapers/magazines = 43 trees Discard 44 tons of garbage Use 1.7 million litres of water Source: National Geographic Human Footprint

Human Impact on Ecosystems Based on current consumption and population trends of North Americans, Earth can only provide 2 hectares for every person on this planet! If everyone lived the way North Americans do, we would need at least 3 more planets!!!

Human Impact on Ecosystems We need to be willing to decide which is more important: our wants or our needs for a healthy planet. Making this decision is part of becoming a responsible environmental citizen.

Protecting the Environment More and more people are concerned about the negative effects that humans have on ecosystems. They want to do something to help. Steward: A person who carefully manages a resource by taking responsibility for their actions and educating others.

Protecting the Environment To become stewards, we need to do the following: We have to learn about the environment. We have to CHANGE some of our behaviours in order to care for the environment. We have to tell others about what we have learned and how they can help too.

Protecting the Environment There are 3 other things we can do: Preserve, Conserve and Restore ecosystems. Preserve: Protect areas from damage by humans. An example of this is Dundas Valley Conservation Area but there are much larger areas (e.g.: national parks)

Protecting the Environment Conserve: using ecosystems wisely. Organic farming vs. traditional farming using fertilizers and pesticides. 3 Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle). – We MUST reduce our waste! Discuss some examples as a class….

Protecting the Environment Restore: Repairing the damage done by human activity. Planting trees to repair soil erosion Building nest sites for birds Replace lawns with wider variety of plant species Use native plants Cities restoring green spaces

Protecting the Environment Your assignment: How can YOU help protect the environment? You are to research and find 3 ways to protect the environment. List these on your “footprint” which will be displayed and submit this with an explanation of how and why this will help the environment.

Protecting the Environment Consolidating today’s lesson: Ecological Footprint is a measure of our impact on Earth’s resources A steward takes responsibility for their affect on the environment We need to look at preserving, conserving and restoring ecosystems.

Protecting the Environment Something to think about as you leave today: Are you a contributer??? (Video: 2:30 min)