Environmental Systems & Societies SL
Environmental Systems & Societies SL
9
Chapters
219
Notes
Unit 1 - Foundations Of Environmental Systems & Societies
Unit 1 - Foundations Of Environmental Systems & Societies
Unit 2 - Ecosystems & Ecology
Unit 2 - Ecosystems & Ecology
Unit 3 - Biodiversity & Conservation
Unit 3 - Biodiversity & Conservation
Unit 4 -Water & Aquatic Food Production Systems & Societies
Unit 4 -Water & Aquatic Food Production Systems & Societies
Unit 5 - Soil Systems & Terrestrial Food Production Systems & Societies
Unit 5 - Soil Systems & Terrestrial Food Production Systems & Societies
Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies
Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies
Unit 7 - Climate Change & Energy Production
Unit 7 - Climate Change & Energy Production
Unit 8 - Human Systems & Resource Use
Unit 8 - Human Systems & Resource Use
Internal Assessment
Internal Assessment
IB Resources
Unit 3 - Biodiversity & Conservation
Environmental Systems & Societies SL
Environmental Systems & Societies SL

Unit 3 - Biodiversity & Conservation

Biodiversity's Edge: Crisis & Value

Word Count Emoji
590 words
Reading Time Emoji
3 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited onย 5th Nov 2024

What makes an area biologically significant? ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ”Ž

  • A hotspot of endemic or unique species. Think of Madagascar! ๐ŸฆŽ More than 80% of its plant and animal species can't be found anywhere else in the world.
  • The presence of multiple ecosystems. Australia's Great Barrier Reef is a perfect example. It's home to coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass meadows, all living side by side. ๐Ÿ ๐ŸŒฟ
  • A high species richness and high biodiversity. The Amazon Rainforest: a million species under a single leafy roof! ๐ŸŒณ๐Ÿ’
  • It holds a major portion of the world's biodiversity. If aliens landed in Costa Rica, they'd meet 5% of Earth's biodiversity in just 0.03% of its surface! ๐Ÿธ๐Ÿš€
  • Unfortunately, these areas can be highly threatened by human activity, such as logging, overhunting, or habitat destruction. The orangutans in Borneo can tell you a sad story about deforestation... ๐ŸŒด๐Ÿฆง
  • They provide economic benefits, like tourism. Just imagine snorkeling in the Belize Barrier Reef, a World Heritage site and a great economic driver for Belize! ๐Ÿš๐Ÿ’ต
  • They are educational treasure troves. Field trips to Yellowstone National Park are not just fun, they're a real-world biology lesson! ๐ŸŒ‹๐Ÿ“š
  • They offer crucial ecological services, like being a carbon sink or controlling floods. Wetlands like the Florida Everglades are the unsung heroes against climate change. ๐ŸŒพ๐ŸŒŠ
  • They have an intrinsic value or existence value. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is worth protecting, even if no human ever sets foot in it. It's not just about us! ๐Ÿ”๏ธ๐Ÿฆ…

Tackling the essay - environmental value systems & tropical biomes ๐Ÿ“๐ŸŒด

This question requires a lot of components for a well-rounded answer.

  • Use the right terms! This isn't just a vocabulary test, it's about understanding and applying ESS concepts. Talk about the "ecological footprint" of activities in tropical biomes, or the "carrying capacity" of these ecosystems.
  • Think about different Environmental Value Systems (EVSs). How does a nature-centered worldview affect actions compared to a human-centered one? Indigenous tribes like the Yanomami in the Amazon have a symbiotic relationship with their environment, while businesses might see the forest mainly as a source of timber.
  • Get specific with examples of tropical biomes and how EVSs relate to their protection. Palm oil plantations in Indonesia's tropical rainforest have led to massive deforestation. A deep ecology viewpoint would see this as an ecological tragedy, while a more anthropocentric view might justify it for economic growth.
  • Analyze the impact of these value systems. Indigenous communities' sustainable practices preserve the biodiversity of the rainforest, while industrial logging could lead to its collapse.
  • Acknowledge alternative viewpoints. This isn't about "right" or "wrong", but about understanding the different values and their implications.
  • Wrap up with a valid conclusion. Remember, this isn't about "saving the trees" or "cutting them all down". It's about finding a balance between the needs of people and the health of our planet. ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’š

Remember, the best way to understand environmental systems is to immerse yourself in them. So get out there, explore, question, and learn. The world is your classroom! ๐Ÿž๏ธ๐Ÿ”ฌ

Table of content

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Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Environmental Systems & Societies SL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 ๐ŸŒŸ

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IB Resources
Unit 3 - Biodiversity & Conservation
Environmental Systems & Societies SL
Environmental Systems & Societies SL

Unit 3 - Biodiversity & Conservation

Biodiversity's Edge: Crisis & Value

Word Count Emoji
590 words
Reading Time Emoji
3 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited onย 5th Nov 2024

What makes an area biologically significant? ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ”Ž

  • A hotspot of endemic or unique species. Think of Madagascar! ๐ŸฆŽ More than 80% of its plant and animal species can't be found anywhere else in the world.
  • The presence of multiple ecosystems. Australia's Great Barrier Reef is a perfect example. It's home to coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass meadows, all living side by side. ๐Ÿ ๐ŸŒฟ
  • A high species richness and high biodiversity. The Amazon Rainforest: a million species under a single leafy roof! ๐ŸŒณ๐Ÿ’
  • It holds a major portion of the world's biodiversity. If aliens landed in Costa Rica, they'd meet 5% of Earth's biodiversity in just 0.03% of its surface! ๐Ÿธ๐Ÿš€
  • Unfortunately, these areas can be highly threatened by human activity, such as logging, overhunting, or habitat destruction. The orangutans in Borneo can tell you a sad story about deforestation... ๐ŸŒด๐Ÿฆง
  • They provide economic benefits, like tourism. Just imagine snorkeling in the Belize Barrier Reef, a World Heritage site and a great economic driver for Belize! ๐Ÿš๐Ÿ’ต
  • They are educational treasure troves. Field trips to Yellowstone National Park are not just fun, they're a real-world biology lesson! ๐ŸŒ‹๐Ÿ“š
  • They offer crucial ecological services, like being a carbon sink or controlling floods. Wetlands like the Florida Everglades are the unsung heroes against climate change. ๐ŸŒพ๐ŸŒŠ
  • They have an intrinsic value or existence value. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is worth protecting, even if no human ever sets foot in it. It's not just about us! ๐Ÿ”๏ธ๐Ÿฆ…

Tackling the essay - environmental value systems & tropical biomes ๐Ÿ“๐ŸŒด

This question requires a lot of components for a well-rounded answer.

  • Use the right terms! This isn't just a vocabulary test, it's about understanding and applying ESS concepts. Talk about the "ecological footprint" of activities in tropical biomes, or the "carrying capacity" of these ecosystems.
  • Think about different Environmental Value Systems (EVSs). How does a nature-centered worldview affect actions compared to a human-centered one? Indigenous tribes like the Yanomami in the Amazon have a symbiotic relationship with their environment, while businesses might see the forest mainly as a source of timber.
  • Get specific with examples of tropical biomes and how EVSs relate to their protection. Palm oil plantations in Indonesia's tropical rainforest have led to massive deforestation. A deep ecology viewpoint would see this as an ecological tragedy, while a more anthropocentric view might justify it for economic growth.
  • Analyze the impact of these value systems. Indigenous communities' sustainable practices preserve the biodiversity of the rainforest, while industrial logging could lead to its collapse.
  • Acknowledge alternative viewpoints. This isn't about "right" or "wrong", but about understanding the different values and their implications.
  • Wrap up with a valid conclusion. Remember, this isn't about "saving the trees" or "cutting them all down". It's about finding a balance between the needs of people and the health of our planet. ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’š

Remember, the best way to understand environmental systems is to immerse yourself in them. So get out there, explore, question, and learn. The world is your classroom! ๐Ÿž๏ธ๐Ÿ”ฌ

Table of content

Unlock the Full Content! File Is Locked Emoji

Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Environmental Systems & Societies SL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 ๐ŸŒŸ

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