SOUTHAMPTON UNIVERSITY’S ENVIRONMENTAL INDEX
www.soton.ac.uk/~engenvir/environment/biodiversity/bio.htm

EDUGREEN
http://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/life/life.htm

a) Habitat
A habitat is the natural home of a plant or animal.

PROBLEMS: Loss of habitats.

CAUSES: Deforestation, over-fishing, over-hunting, forest fires, pollution and modern farming all contribute to the loss of habitat. Birds lose their natural migration and feeding routes when roads and railways are built through habitats.

IMPACTS: Many of the world’s plants and animals are under severe threat of extinction through the loss of natural habitats. The destruction of ancient forests is adding to the problems of global warming and land degredation.

SOLUTIONS: International controls and safeguards to protect important habitats. More and larger wildlife areas in towns and countryside. Creation of local habitats such as ponds and meadows.

BIODIVERSITY BINGO
www.rom.on.ca/quiz/biobingo/index.html
In this online game you try and match animals with one of four different habitats:
Tropical Marine, Tropical Forest, Temperate Forest and Temperate Freshwater

PUBLIC BROADCAST SERVICE: NATURE
www.pbs.org/neighborhoods/nature/
Long list of links on Habitats including “Who lives here?” interactive game: www.pbs.org/kratts/crazy/wlh/

ECOSYSTEM INDEX
http://members.aol.com/bowermanb/ecosystems.html
Huge list of web sites relating to ecosystems.

back to the list of themes

b) Alien Introductions
Plants or animals which are put in habitats in which they are not normally found are called alien or exotic species.

PROBLEMS: The natural balance of a habitat or ecosystem may be destroyed.

CAUSES: By accident, e.g. insects brought into a country on exotic fruits, by industry or farming, e.g. 100 Cane Toads introduced in Australia in 1935, now cover vast areas and threaten natural habitats and species.

IMPACTS: An alien plant or animal may be stronger than a natural species and can kill off the natural species. An alien animal may feed on plants that may have no natural defences against that animal.

SOLUTIONS: Import and pet ownership control; rewards to protect natural species; informaton and education about potential effects of alien introductions.

EDUGREEN
http://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/life/exotic.htm

WORLD WILDLIFE FUND: KIDS / FUN
www.worldwildlife.org/fun/kids.cfm
Includes Caught in the Act which follows the paths of species as they are taken far from their homes.

THE VIRTUAL LIBRARY OF ECOLOGY AND BIODIVERSITY :
http://conbio.net/VL/search/

back to the list of themes

a) Waste
PROBLEMS: In one year, over a million tonnes of rubbish is thrown out in Britain alone. 83% goes onto rubbish tips known as landfill sites.

CAUSES: People have more money to spend on things and many things are not built to last. Only 8% of rubbish is recycled.

IMPACTS: We are running out of places to put all the rubbish. Also, when we throw something out, we often replace it with something new which has used yet more energy to produce it.

SOLUTIONS: Encouragement to change our “throw-away” culture by reducing the use of disposable items and building things to last and repairing them. Reduce the amount of rubbish created by only buying things you really need. Re-use things such as plastic bags, containers or card. Re-cycle resources such as aluminium, glass and paper.

EDUGREEN
http://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/solwaste/soliwaste.htm

OLLIE RECYCLES
www.ollierecycles.com/uk/index.html

RECYCLE MORE
www.recycle-more.co.uk

WASTE WATCH
www.wastewatch.org.uk

SOUTHAMPTON UNIVERSITY’S ENVIRONMENTAL INDEX
www.soton.ac.uk/~engenvir/environment/waste/rubbish.htm

back to the list of themes

b) Forests
Forests are an important resource, as a source of wood for fuel, building and paper and as the home of half the world’s land-living species. They are also the “lungs” of the world absorbing harmful carbon dioxide.

PROBLEMS: Over half of the world’s original forest cover has now been destroyed.

CAUSES: Forests are being threatened by agriculture, commercial logging, forest fires and overgrazing.

IMPACTS: Natural forest habitats are being destroyed which could lead to the extinction of plants and animals. The loss of a forest can end the traditional ways of life of native people and lead to soil erosion. Trees use carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and can help "soak up" some of the excess carbon dioxide that is causing global warming.

SOLUTIONS: Only use wood or wood products from sustainable forests; i.e. those in which felled trees are replanted, or recycled products. Commercial forests managed not only to produce wood, but also to recreate habitats. Protect rainforests from logging and other industries. Reforms in land ownership and support of organic and small-scale farming.

EDUGREEN
http://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/forestry/forest.htm

RAINFOREST ACTION NETWORK
www.ran.org
Go to "Rainforests" section for information or the "Kid’s Corner"

THE FORESTRY COMMISSION
www.forestry.gov.uk

CORNWALL WILDLIFE TRUST
Go down the page and under the title of Wildkids, there is good information about trees:
www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/cornwall/edu/kids

back to the list of themes

c) Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels are oil, natural gas and coal. They are non-renewable sources of energy as they take millions of years to form.

PROBLEMS: Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, and other air pollutants, as by-products into the atmosphere. Scientists believe that we have only enough oil and gas supplies for the next 20 years.

CAUSES: Power stations burn fossil fuels to produce electricity which is used to power industry and which we use in our homes. We also use gas for cooking and heating, and fuel when we travel.

IMPACTS: Air pollutants cause acid rain and contribute to global warming. This air pollution also affects humans by contributing to tuberculosis, bronchitis, heart and chest diseases, stomach disorders, asthma and cancers.

SOLUTIONS: Renewable energy is power generated by a source which will not be used up. Examples of renewable resources include: wind power; solar power; biofuels; hydroelectric power (HEP); geothermal energy; tidal power and wave energy. Travelling less by car or aeroplane reduces the use of fuel and buying locally produced food reduces the fuel needed to transport food from all over the world.

(See also see 3a. sites)

THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/kids/youth/infopoint/energy/?lang=_e&region=

EDUGREEN
http://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/n%5Frenew/energy.htm

ANIMATED WIND FARM
http://zebu.uoregon.edu/images/windfarm.mpg
This needs Quicktime to play.

GLOBAL SOLAR PATNERS
www.solarpartners.org
Children’s site on solar energy.

back to the list of themes

a) Global Warming
PROBLEMS: Carbon dioxide collects in the atmosphere and traps some of the heat going back to space, like a greenhouse.

CAUSES: Carbon dioxide is produced by the burning of fossil fuels to produce energy; by power stations, by individuals in their homes, and by transport.

IMPACTS: Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are expected to raise global temperature by an average of 2°C by the year 2100. This will melt the polar icecaps, raise sea levels and produce freak weather conditions. Millions of people may be affected by drought or flooding and wildlife may find it difficult to adapt to such sudden changes in their ecosystem.

SOLUTIONS: Reduce how much energy we use and use cleaner renewable sources of energy such as wind power; solar power; bio-fuels; hydroelectric power (HEP); geothermal energy; tidal power and wave energy. Stop the destruction of the rainforests as they absorb carbon dioxide.

EDUGREEN
http://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/climate/climate.htm

POPULAR EDUCATION
www.flora.org/mike/globalcc/index.html
good starting place which includes a list of link at bottom of page.

BRAINPOP WEATHER
www.brainpop.com/science/weather/
Information including the water cycle and effects of pollution.

back to the list of themes

a) Water for Everyone
PROBLEMS: Millions of people throughout the world do not have suitable supplies of clean water for drinking and cleaning.

CAUSES: The main world-wide use of water (70-80%) is for irrigation schemes which provide water to allow crops to be grown in dry areas. Much of what is grown is for export. Industry, farming and human waste pollute water in rivers, lakes and the seas.

IMPACTS: Irrigation schemes may not use water efficiently and can draw away water from countries that are downstream, which can lead to disputes. In developing countries, export crops are often grown on the best land forcing poor people to move to sparse land that soon turns to desert. Groundwater is fresh water beneath the ground and if it is over-exploited it can become contaminated which makes it unsuitable for use. Pollution makes water harmful to plants, animals and people. In the developing world up to 80% of all diseases and a third of deaths are caused by drinking contaminated water.

SOLUTIONS: Co-operation between countries which share a source of water, efficient water use, and a reduction in pollution and contamination. In the developing world, less dependency on export crops and, globally, more support for sustainable farming methods.

PACHAMAMA:
http://grida.no/geo2000/pacha/fresh/index.htm

SOUTHAMPTON UNIVERSITY’S ENVIRONMENTAL INDEX
www.soton.ac.uk/~engenvir/environment/water/water2.html

COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS
www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/coasts/index.html
Includes a chapter on Water in our Environment

DOWN THE DRAIN PROJECT / GLOBAL WATER SAMPLING PROJECT
www.k12science.org/curriculum/drainproj/

www.k12science.org/curriculum/waterproj/
Reference sections containing links to online water resources.

back to the list of themes

b) Population Growth
The population is the number of people alive.

PROBLEMS: 2,000 years ago, the world's population was 170 million; in 1830 it had risen to 1 billion but it only took another 100 years to rise to 2 billion in 1930. Today, the world's population stands at 6 billion. This is expected to almost double within the next 50 years.

CAUSES: Population growth has occurred because of advances in medicine, sanitation and nutrition. Most of the predicted increase is due to occur in the developing world, but even a small increase in developed countries can have a major impact because of the higher percentage of resources that they consume.

IMPACTS: A huge stress on the environment; larger populations require more resources, which means more farming and industry. Also, in the last 200 years we have used up much of the Earth’s raw materials such as fossil fuels, metals and stone. Larger populations produce more waste that affects land, air and water.

SOLUTIONS: Such a large population could be sustained. However, food production needs to be properly managed and the environmental impacts of farming and housing need to be minimised. The earth has enough resources but these need to be shared more equally between rich and poor countries and between the rich and poor within their countries.

PACHAMAMA:
http://grida.no/geo2000/pacha/urban/index.htm

THE ENCYLOPEDIA OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
www.doc.mmu.ac.uk/aric/esd/Earth/Population.html

back to the list of themes