Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests

Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests module uses forest related examples to help students better understand the complexity of environmental issues. Students examine issues objectively, collect and analyze data, and become involved in decision making experiences. They learn how to present arguments clearly and how citizens can play a role in forest management decisions.

Here's what's inside:

• Introduction

• Background Information – Forests: Issues and Answers

• Student Activities - Overviews and resources for the activities can be viewed by clicking on one of the following activity titles:
  
  1. What's a Forest to You?
  2. Case Study: Old Growth Forests
  3. Tough Choices
          California Example focusing on Prescribed Fires
          California Example focusing on Controlled Burns
  4. Who Owns America's Forests?
  5. Balancing America's Forests
  6. Squirrels vs. Scopes
  7. Words to Live By
  8. Take Action!

• Appendices:
  
  1. Bibliography
  2. Glossary
  3. A History of Forest Legislation
  4. Old Growth Articles and References
  5. Forest Facts and Figures
  6. PLT Mission, Goals, and Methods
  7. PLT Conceptual Framework

  Find a Focus on Forest workshop near you.

Resources

Earth & Sky
The following activities can be supplemented with related Earth & Sky radio shows that you can download for use in your classroom.

Related Radio Shows
Activity 1: What’s a Forest to You?
 - Neil Sampson: 'We depend on forests every day' 
 - Jo Pierce: 'Private forests mean income, and much more'   
 - Greg McPherson’s Tree Carbon Calculator  
 - Janaki Alavalapati: 'Harvest trees to create energy, benefit forests'   
 - Jo Pierce’s Tree Farm Sustained with Careful, Long-term thinking   
 - Robert Bonnie on Financial Incentives for Preserving Forests  
 - Robert Bonnie Says Agreement Protects Both Wildlife and Landowners  
 - Sally Collins: '6,000 acres of open land lost to development daily'    
 - Wangari Maathai, Nobel Laureate, on Planting Trees and Protecting Forests  

Activity 2: Old-Growth Forests
 - Sally Collins: 6,000 Acres of Open Land Lost to Development Daily  
 - Robert Bonnie Says Agreement Protects Both Wildlife and Landowners  
 - Robert Bonnie on Financial Incentives for Preserving Forests   
 - Neil Sampson: 'We depend on forests every day'  

Activity 3: Tough Choices
 - Economist Explains Forest 'Costs and Benefits'   
 - Janaki Alavalapati: 'Harvest trees to create energy, benefit forests'   
 - Robert Bonnie on Financial Incentives for Preserving Forests 
 - Robert Bonnie Says Agreement Protects Both Wildlife and Landowners 
 - Sally Collins: '6,000 acres of open land lost to development daily'   
 - City Dwellers Feast on Plant-Derived Resources 

Activity 4: Who Owns America’s Forests?
 - Sally Collins, with an Overview of U.S. Forests in the Early 21st Century  
 - Sally Collins: 6,000 Acres of Open Land Lost to Development Daily 
 - Robert Bonnie Says Agreement Protects Both Wildlife and Landowners  
 - Neil Sampson: 'We depend on forests every day'   
 - Jo Pierce: 'Private forests mean income, and much more'   
 - Jo Pierce’s Tree Farm Sustained with Careful, Long-term thinking  
 - Robert Bonnie on Financial Incentives for Preserving Forests 

Activity 5: Balancing America’s Forests
 - Economist explains forest 'costs and benefits'    
 - Sally Collins, with an Overview of U.S. Forests in the Early 21st Century  
 - Sally Collins: 6,000 Acres of Open Land Lost to Development Daily  
 - Robert Bonnie Says Agreement Protects Both Wildlife and Landowners 

Activity 6: Squirrels vs. Scopes 
 - Robert Bonnie Says Agreement Protects Both Wildlife and Landowners  
 - Janaki Alavalapati: 'Harvest trees to create energy, benefit forests'    

Activity 7: Words to Live By
 - Neil Sampson: 'We depend on forests every day'   
 - Jo Pierce: 'Private forests mean income, and much more'  
 - Jo Pierce’s Tree Farm Sustained with Careful, Long-term thinking 
 
Activity 8: Take Action!
 - Sylvia Earle: 'We're seeing a decline of 90 percent of many of the big fish species' 
 - eBay Does the Right Thing, Bans Ivory Sales 
 - Robert Bonnie on Financial Incentives for Preserving Forests

State Specific Resources
Article on Galveston, TX development plans. Critics say the plans are dangerous because homes and hotels are being built on a ridge that some say protects the island