Biodiversity Protection: Policies in Action

Biology Grades High School 10:40 Video
Print Lesson Plan Watch Video

Lesson Description

Explore local and global policies designed to protect biodiversity, examining the interplay between scientific data, economic factors, and international cooperation.

Video Resource

Protecting biodiversity: Local and global policies

California Academy of Sciences

Duration: 10:40
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Biodiversity Policy: The role of local, regional, national, and international policies in protecting biodiversity.
  • Economic vs. Environmental Factors: The conflict between short-term economic gains and long-term environmental sustainability in policy making.
  • Data-Driven Policy: The importance of primary studies (field and lab work) and meta-analyses in forming effective biodiversity policies.
  • Policy Enforcement: The challenges of enforcing biodiversity policies, especially in developing countries.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to analyze the impact of various policies on biodiversity at different scales.
  • Students will be able to evaluate the challenges and trade-offs involved in balancing economic development and biodiversity conservation.
  • Students will be able to describe the types of scientific data used to inform biodiversity policy and explain how these data are collected and analyzed.
  • Students will be able to discuss the importance of enforcing biodiversity policies and the challenges associated with enforcement, especially in developing countries.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what biodiversity means to them and why it is important. Briefly introduce the concept of policies and regulations, emphasizing that these are essentially agreements to protect something. State that biodiversity needs protection through policies due to human economic development that affects natural habitats.
  • Video Viewing (10 mins)
    Show the YouTube video 'Protecting biodiversity: Local and global policies' by the California Academy of Sciences. Instruct students to take notes on the different types of policies discussed and the challenges associated with them.
  • Discussion (15 mins)
    Facilitate a class discussion based on the discussion questions. Encourage students to share examples of local and global policies they are aware of and to critically evaluate their effectiveness.
  • Activity: Policy Proposal (20 mins)
    Divide students into small groups and assign each group a specific environmental issue (e.g., plastic pollution, deforestation, overfishing). Each group must propose a policy solution to address their assigned issue, considering both local and global implications. Groups should consider economic factors in the policy and what scientific data is required to enforce the solution.
  • Presentation and Wrap-up (10 mins)
    Have each group present their policy proposal to the class. Conclude the lesson by summarizing the key concepts and emphasizing the importance of informed policy making for biodiversity conservation.

Interactive Exercises

  • Policy Debate
    Organize a classroom debate on a controversial biodiversity policy issue (e.g., whaling, deforestation). Assign students to argue for or against the policy, requiring them to use evidence and reasoning to support their arguments.
  • Data Analysis
    Provide students with real-world datasets related to biodiversity (e.g., species population trends, habitat loss rates). Have them analyze the data and draw conclusions about the impact of different policies on biodiversity.

Discussion Questions

  • How do local policies differ from international policies in their impact on biodiversity?
  • What are some examples of how economic factors can hinder biodiversity conservation efforts?
  • Why is it important to consider both primary studies and meta-analyses when creating biodiversity policies?
  • What are the major challenges in enforcing biodiversity policies, particularly in developing countries?
  • What role can individual actions play in supporting or hindering biodiversity policies?

Skills Developed

  • Critical Thinking
  • Data Analysis
  • Policy Evaluation
  • Communication

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which of the following is a challenge in implementing biodiversity policies?

Correct Answer: Economic considerations

Question 2:

What type of data involves direct collection of information from nature?

Correct Answer: Primary studies

Question 3:

What is a meta-analysis?

Correct Answer: An analysis that combines multiple studies

Question 4:

Why is enforcement of biodiversity policies particularly difficult in developing countries?

Correct Answer: Political instability and limited resources

Question 5:

Which of the following is an example of a local biodiversity policy?

Correct Answer: Recycling program

Question 6:

What is a major factor that often trumps other considerations in policy decisions related to biodiversity?

Correct Answer: Short-term economic gain

Question 7:

What is one way that individuals can contribute to biodiversity conservation?

Correct Answer: Participating in organized cleanups

Question 8:

What kind of imagery can be used to monitor changes in ecosystems over time?

Correct Answer: Satellite imagery

Question 9:

What is the main goal of establishing marine protected areas?

Correct Answer: To decrease threats to biodiversity

Question 10:

What is the importance of incorporating scientific data into biodiversity policies?

Correct Answer: To ensure effective decision-making

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

____________ and policies have evolved over time to recognize that some species are in trouble.

Correct Answer: Conventions

Question 2:

___________ studies rely on scientists collecting data directly from nature.

Correct Answer: Primary

Question 3:

__________ are compiled into big picture overviews that summarize complex information.

Correct Answer: Meta-analyses

Question 4:

Political statements can put ________ pressure on governments that threaten biodiversity.

Correct Answer: economic

Question 5:

Neighborhood watch programs may start to monitor people who let their ________ run free and eat birds.

Correct Answer: pets

Question 6:

Banning and recycling _________ bags is a relatively simple solution to plastic pollution.

Correct Answer: plastic

Question 7:

Meg Lowman used ________ photos to show local leaders the importance of protected forested areas.

Correct Answer: satellite

Question 8:

Enforcement of policies requires resources and the ________ to implement policy decisions.

Correct Answer: will

Question 9:

Decisions are usually made with ________ gain in mind at the expense of long-term effects.

Correct Answer: short-term

Question 10:

Data from biodiversity studies can lead to the establishment of ________ protected areas.

Correct Answer: marine

Educational Standards

B.LS2.2:[Standard] Use mathematical representations to support and revise explanations based on evidence about factors affecting biodiversity and populations in ecosystems of different scales. B.LS2.6:[Standard] Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem. B.LS2.1:[Standard] Use mathematical and/or computational representations to support explanations of factors that affect carrying capacities of ecosystems at different scales.

Teaching Materials

Download ready-to-use materials for this lesson:

Student Worksheet Classroom Slides Assessment Quiz
Add to Google Classroom

User Actions

Sign in to save this lesson plan to your favorites.

Sign In

Share This Lesson

Related Lesson Plans