1. Human and Environment Southern Europe
Ch. 12.3
Human and Environment
Southern Europe

2. Warm up Video
1. What does it mean to say that Venice was the “trading gateway to the East”?
2. Describe the Grand Canal.
3. How is the city of Venice vulnerable to changes in the environment?

3. Answers to video
1. The city was a hub of trade that connected western Europe to Asia.
2. The Grand Canal is the largest canal in Venice. It is lined by ornate palaces. Originally, the palaces also served as warehouses which held goods from around the world. Other notable landmarks along the canal include the Rialto Bridge and various churches.
3. Because Venice is surrounded by water, the city is very vulnerable to rising sea levels.

4. Large algae blooms are damaging the delicate marine biomes of the Adriatic Sea.

5. Changes in the global climate has made weather more unpredictable
Changes in the global climate has made weather more unpredictable. Effects of climate change include increased erosion, higher risk of fires, increased deforestation, and the loss of glaciers at high altitudes.

7. The decline of fish stocks has adversely affected the overall health of the marine biome.

8. Manufacturing and tourism cause pollution that is a major threat to surrounding seas and agricultural resources.

10. Cruise Ship Run Aground in Greece

11. Protesting Cruise Ships

14. Pollutants and other human impacts have led to pollution hot spots, the extreme damage or even death of the local ecosystem.

16. The EU created the European Environmental Agency to effectively deal with environmental issues.

18. Many nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), such as Earthwatch, are working on solutions to environmental problems.

19. Certification is a way to combat deforestation and to ensure that forest resources are being used responsibly.

20. Link to story map about Mediterranean region’s wildlife/ecosystems