Farmers from Maldevta Village, who work in the lowest sector of the economy, have minimal land and resources to help them grow crops. This obligates them to enter the hills with their cattle to allow grazing. Farmers also clear some forest areas, to increase their farm land for more income, thus reducing the biodiversity. As a result of the reduced in forest area and resources, wild animals invade villages and destroy farmlands. In some cases, because of minimal knowledge of the chemical Pesticides, it’s overuse affects not only the farmland, but also nearby water resources as it leads to eutrophication. This relates to my RQ because after surveying the villagers and collecting the raw data from the Simpson’s Diversity index it allowed me to evaluate the effect of human intervention on the natural environment and thus evaluating the effect of Ecological Footprint.
This document outlines an environmental research project comparing perspectives in Uttarakhand, India and Osaka, Japan based on gender. It includes the aim, research question, introduction, environmental context, background on the locations, hypothesis, variables, materials, procedure, risk assessment, ethics, data collection, processing, and analysis. Data was collected through questionnaires with 12 participants in each location (6 men and 6 women). The responses were categorized as ecocentric, anthropocentric, or technocentric. The results showed men in the village had 52.4% ecocentric perspectives while women had 50%. Men in Osaka had 47.1% technocentric perspectives and women had 50% anthropocentric. The study
1. The document describes a study that investigated the relationship between gender and environmental attitudes in the village of Mahendrapur, Dehradun, India.
2. A survey was conducted of 20 households using a 7 question questionnaire, with 10 male and 10 female respondents of varying ages.
3. The results were analyzed to compare the environmental attitudes of males and females in the village, with the hypothesis that males would have a more developed environmental value system due to differences in traditional work roles between genders.
This document outlines a study that aims to examine the relationship between income levels and ecological footprint in a village and city in India. The study will survey 30-40 households in each area using a standardized questionnaire to collect data on income and factors contributing to ecological footprint. Random sampling will be used to select households. Data will be analyzed using graphs to observe how income impacts ecological footprint between the two areas. The results could help determine how income correlates with ecological footprint and environmental impact.
This ESS IA talk about to determine how significant a role environmental value systems play in shaping family planning in both the urban (Gurgaon/Delhi) and the rural (Raniwalla/Hilasauri), and to see whether there are any other factors influencing family planning.
This ESS IA talks about To compare the family planning in a two areas. A rural village (A- Hilaswali, Mahendra Pur, Dehradun) and a metropolitan city (B- Gurgaon, Haryana) and evaluate whether education influences it.
This document provides a comprehensive list of case studies and examples for the International Baccalaureate Environmental Systems and Societies (IB ESS) exam, organized by topic. It includes specific examples of systems, ecosystems, populations, resources, pollution events, climate change impacts, and contrasting environmental value systems that students should know for the exam. While not a complete list, it covers many key topics and concepts that may be assessed.
This extended essay examines the environmental impact on the River Ganga during the 2013 Maha Kumbh festival in Allahabad, India. Millions of pilgrims took holy dips in the river, which led to high levels of pollution. The author conducted an experiment measuring the pH levels of water from three areas - the most used bathing area, downstream from sewage pipelines, and a less accessed area. The results showed the most used bathing area had the highest pollution levels and lowest pH. Despite government efforts, proper waste management and sanitation could not handle the massive crowds. The large influx of people and waste overwhelmed existing infrastructure and increased pollution in the Ganga.
Impact of Climate Change on AgricultureDevegowda S R
Climate change is causing rising global temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns. This is impacting agriculture in India in several ways:
1) Cereal production is projected to decrease by 10-40% by 2100 due to rising temperatures, with wheat production decreasing by 4-5 million tons for every 1C rise in temperature.
2) Increased droughts and floods will make agricultural production more variable from year to year.
3) Rising sea levels could cause loss of land for agriculture and flooding in coastal areas.
This document outlines an environmental research project comparing perspectives in Uttarakhand, India and Osaka, Japan based on gender. It includes the aim, research question, introduction, environmental context, background on the locations, hypothesis, variables, materials, procedure, risk assessment, ethics, data collection, processing, and analysis. Data was collected through questionnaires with 12 participants in each location (6 men and 6 women). The responses were categorized as ecocentric, anthropocentric, or technocentric. The results showed men in the village had 52.4% ecocentric perspectives while women had 50%. Men in Osaka had 47.1% technocentric perspectives and women had 50% anthropocentric. The study
1. The document describes a study that investigated the relationship between gender and environmental attitudes in the village of Mahendrapur, Dehradun, India.
2. A survey was conducted of 20 households using a 7 question questionnaire, with 10 male and 10 female respondents of varying ages.
3. The results were analyzed to compare the environmental attitudes of males and females in the village, with the hypothesis that males would have a more developed environmental value system due to differences in traditional work roles between genders.
This document outlines a study that aims to examine the relationship between income levels and ecological footprint in a village and city in India. The study will survey 30-40 households in each area using a standardized questionnaire to collect data on income and factors contributing to ecological footprint. Random sampling will be used to select households. Data will be analyzed using graphs to observe how income impacts ecological footprint between the two areas. The results could help determine how income correlates with ecological footprint and environmental impact.
This ESS IA talk about to determine how significant a role environmental value systems play in shaping family planning in both the urban (Gurgaon/Delhi) and the rural (Raniwalla/Hilasauri), and to see whether there are any other factors influencing family planning.
This ESS IA talks about To compare the family planning in a two areas. A rural village (A- Hilaswali, Mahendra Pur, Dehradun) and a metropolitan city (B- Gurgaon, Haryana) and evaluate whether education influences it.
This document provides a comprehensive list of case studies and examples for the International Baccalaureate Environmental Systems and Societies (IB ESS) exam, organized by topic. It includes specific examples of systems, ecosystems, populations, resources, pollution events, climate change impacts, and contrasting environmental value systems that students should know for the exam. While not a complete list, it covers many key topics and concepts that may be assessed.
This extended essay examines the environmental impact on the River Ganga during the 2013 Maha Kumbh festival in Allahabad, India. Millions of pilgrims took holy dips in the river, which led to high levels of pollution. The author conducted an experiment measuring the pH levels of water from three areas - the most used bathing area, downstream from sewage pipelines, and a less accessed area. The results showed the most used bathing area had the highest pollution levels and lowest pH. Despite government efforts, proper waste management and sanitation could not handle the massive crowds. The large influx of people and waste overwhelmed existing infrastructure and increased pollution in the Ganga.
Impact of Climate Change on AgricultureDevegowda S R
Climate change is causing rising global temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns. This is impacting agriculture in India in several ways:
1) Cereal production is projected to decrease by 10-40% by 2100 due to rising temperatures, with wheat production decreasing by 4-5 million tons for every 1C rise in temperature.
2) Increased droughts and floods will make agricultural production more variable from year to year.
3) Rising sea levels could cause loss of land for agriculture and flooding in coastal areas.
This document contains sample essay questions and responses about ecosystems and human impacts on the environment.
The first question asks to describe methods to record changes in an ecosystem like the Alpine Pine Forest from human activities, such as using sampling methods to measure species abundance and diversity over time.
The second question explains how human activity has increased nitrogen in ecosystems through fertilizer use and fossil fuel combustion, and the impacts like acid rain, soil acidification, and eutrophication.
The third question evaluates the role of Environmental Impact Assessments in different societies, noting they can empower communities but be biased if developers fund them, and may not be affordable or prioritized in all contexts.
How to Write ESS Essay Questions in Paper 2-First Exam 2017GURU CHARAN KUMAR
This document provides information about essay questions on the IB ESS exam. It notes that:
- Paper 2 Section B contains two essay questions worth 20 marks each from a choice of four.
- Each essay question has three parts (A, B, and C) with varying point values.
- Part C is marked based on mark bands and requires evaluation, synthesis, and justification.
- The document also outlines the assessment objectives for ESS, including knowledge, application, evaluation, and engagement with environmental issues. It provides examples of key command terms used in ESS essay questions like define, describe, and distinguish.
Rosegrant, Mark. 2023. Climate Change and Agriculture: Impacts, Adaptation, and Mitigation. PowerPoint presentation given during university-wide seminar. Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, March 30, 2023.
ESS Topic 3.2 - Resources as natural capitalBrad Kremer
Natural capital refers to natural resources that provide value to humans. Natural income is the growth or yield of natural capital over time, such as agricultural harvests, timber growth, or herd increases. For a resource to be used sustainably, only the natural income should be harvested, not the original stock, so that the resource is not depleted. The concept of sustainable development aims to meet current needs without compromising the environment and resources for future generations. However, defining and achieving sustainability can be debated, as views differ on how to balance environmental protection with economic interests.
The document discusses climate change impacts in Sudan. It notes that Sudan is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts due to factors like poverty, weak resource management, and environmental fragility. Key impacts include rising temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns exacerbating droughts and floods, threats to food security and water resources, and health impacts. The document outlines Sudan's climate zones and variability in rainfall. It recommends various adaptation strategies and projects focused on sectors like agriculture, forestry, rangelands, and health to build resilience to climate change.
Presentation by Rob Vos, Director for Agricultural Development Economics (ESA) at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
February 2, 2016
Washington, DC
This document summarizes key concepts from topics about systems and models, ecosystems, and human population and resource use covered in the IB ESS exam. It defines important terms like open and closed systems, feedback, and transfers and transformations of matter and energy. It also describes different biomes and their characteristics, ecosystem structure including food chains and trophic levels, and population interactions such as competition, predation, and succession. Finally, it discusses human population dynamics and factors that can limit exponential growth.
Ess topic 1 foundations of environmental systems and societies(first exam 2017)GURU CHARAN KUMAR
Topic 1: Foundations of environmental systems and societies (16 hours)
Big questions: This topic may be particularly appropriate for considering big questions A, C, D and E.
Sub-topic 1.1: Environmental value systems
Significant ideas:
• Historical events, among other influences, affect the development of environmental value systems (EVSs) and environmental movements.
• There is a wide spectrum of EVSs, each with its own premises and implications.
Knowledge and understanding:
• Significant historical influences on the development of the environmental
movement have come from literature, the media, major environmental disasters,
international agreements and technological developments.
• An EVS is a worldview or paradigm that shapes the way an individual, or group
of people, perceives and evaluates environmental issues, influenced by cultural,
religious, economic and socio-political contexts.
• An EVS might be considered as a system in the sense that it may be influenced
by education, experience, culture and media (inputs), and involves a set of
interrelated premises, values and arguments that can generate consistent
decisions and evaluations (outputs).
• There is a spectrum of EVSs, from ecocentric through anthropocentric to
technocentric value systems.
• An ecocentric viewpoint integrates social, spiritual and environmental
dimensions into a holistic ideal. It puts ecology and nature as central to humanity
and emphasizes a less materialistic approach to life with greater self-sufficiency
of societies. An ecocentric viewpoint prioritizes biorights, emphasizes the
importance of education and encourages self-restraint in human behaviour.
• An anthropocentric viewpoint argues that humans must sustainably manage the
global system. This might be through the use of taxes, environmental regulation
and legislation. Debate would be encouraged to reach a consensual, pragmatic
approach to solving environmental problems.
• A
Crop simulation model for intercroppingdebaaaaaaaa
This document discusses crop modeling approaches for assessing intercropping systems. It begins by outlining how crop models can help with problem identification, determining crop responses, choosing crops/cultivars, and evaluating new intercropping systems. It then explains that intercropping research lags monoculture research due to complex species interactions. Current research often only examines final yields, not interactions. Crop models can enhance intercropping research and adoption by farmers. The document categorizes approaches for modeling resource use in intercropping systems as de Wit, discrete crop-based, and dual-species canopy models. It provides examples of specific intercropping models and concludes with examples of model outputs comparing intercropping and monocropping
Agronomic-fortification is one such approach that involves the application of foliar fertilizers or combined soil
and foliar fertilizers, intercropping with pulse and crop rotation, which is a highly effective and practical way to
maximize the absorption and accumulation of micronutrients in the grain. It is also recognized as one of the cheapest
ways to reduce mineral deficiency in the human diet.
This document provides an overview of organic crop production, including:
1) It defines organic agriculture as an ecological system that promotes biodiversity and biological cycles without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
2) It describes the origins of organic agriculture in the United States, tracing back to the works of Albert Howard and J.I. Rodale in the early 20th century promoting natural soil fertility and composting.
3) It discusses some common misconceptions around organic agriculture, including that it means "doing next to nothing" or allows continued use of some prohibited materials, when proper organic standards require soil building and natural pest management.
ESS IA example - old syllabus - MLA formatBrad Kremer
This document shows the proper formatting and sequence of the required Internal Assessment for the IB Environmental Systems and Societies course (pre-2015 syllabus). It is written in MLA format in order to model the proper structure of a formal write-up.
1. The document discusses various types of pollution caused by human activities and their impacts. It defines pollution and describes different forms such as air pollution, light pollution, and point source versus non-point source pollution.
2. DDT is used as a case study to illustrate the conflicts between the utility of a substance and its environmental impacts. While DDT was widely used for malaria control, it bioaccumulated in ecosystems and contributed to thinning eggshells and declines in bird populations like bald eagles.
3. The costs of pollution are extensive and include impacts on human health, natural systems, and economic losses. Air pollution alone results in over $200 billion in lost income annually due to premature deaths.
soil organic carbon- a key for sustainable soil quality under scenario of cli...Bornali Borah
The global soil resource is already showing a sign of serious degradation (Banwart et al. 2014) which has ultimately negative impact on sustained crop yield and environmental quality. Due to intense rainfall and concurrent rise in temperature with changing climate, the fertile top soil is prone to severe degradation with depletion of SOC. Most soils in agricultural ecosystems have lost soil C ranging from 30 to 60 t C ha-1 with the magnitude of 50 to 75% loss (Lal, 2004). Hence, restoration of soil quality through different carbon management options will enhance soil health, mitigate climate change and provide sustained agricultural production.
This document discusses crop production and management techniques. It explains that manure and fertilizers are added to soil to provide nutrients for plant growth. Some examples of fertilizers include urea and ammonium sulfate, while examples of manure include cattle dung and plant residue. The document then discusses various irrigation methods like traditional well irrigation as well as modern techniques like sprinkler and drip irrigation. It also covers weed control, harvesting, threshing, winnowing, grain storage, and animal husbandry.
Beyond mitigation: forest-based adaptation to climate changeCIFOR-ICRAF
Forests and climate change adaptation are linked in two ways: first, through
adaptation for forests, because climate change will affect forests and so
they need help to adapt; second, through forests for adaptation, because
forests contribute to helping local communities and broader society adapt to
climate change. Both linkages are explored in this presentation, together
with the synergies between climate change mitigation and adaptation in
forestry projects. The possibilities and challenges in these ideas are
explored by using wetlands as a case in point. CIFOR and CIRAD scientist
Bruno Locatelli and colleague Emilia Pramova gave this presentation at the
FAO-UNEP Meeting on Forests and Climate Change Adaptation in Asia during October 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.
1) A pH meter works by measuring the potential difference between a glass electrode that responds to hydrogen ion concentration and a reference electrode with a known potential. The glass electrode selectively binds hydrogen ions, generating a potential based on the H+ concentration difference across the membrane.
2) The Nernst equation relates the measured potential to pH. At room temperature, pH equals the measured potential minus the reference electrode potential, divided by 0.05916 volts per pH unit.
3) Combination pH electrodes contain both the glass and reference electrodes in one probe for convenient measurement of the solution's pH based on its hydrogen ion concentration.
Operational Manual for Production of Vermicompostx3G9
This document provides instructions for producing vermicompost using earthworms. It describes collecting bedding materials like agricultural waste, preparing beds by layering materials and inoculating with earthworm culture, maintaining the beds, separating finished vermicompost and vermiculture, and analyzing the compost for nutrients. The goal is to produce organic fertilizer using waste recycling to improve soil fertility in a sustainable and cost-effective manner.
A Bioenergy Research Prospectus For Southern AfricaAshley Smith
This document summarizes a workshop focused on developing sustainable visions for integrated food-fuel systems in Southern Africa. The workshop brought together industry, academic, and government stakeholders from across the region. Key topics discussed included biomass feedstock availability and sustainability, conversion technologies, energy demands, and ensuring environmental, economic, and social sustainability of any bioenergy development. The document outlines several knowledge gaps around quantifying sustainable feedstock potentials, characterizing feedstocks, understanding appropriate conversion options, emissions impacts, and how to maximize social and economic benefits for local communities.
This dissertation explores interactions between agrobiodiversity and livelihoods among small-scale coffee farmers in El Salvador. It finds that farmers maintain crop diversity through cultivation of maize landraces for food security against climate variability and price fluctuations. While agrobiodiversity provided cultural value, there was no strong relationship between diversity and food security; income was a better predictor. Shade tree diversity in coffee farms was stable over time despite some tree removal. Higher initial shade tree species richness correlated with greater carbon storage in those trees.
This document contains sample essay questions and responses about ecosystems and human impacts on the environment.
The first question asks to describe methods to record changes in an ecosystem like the Alpine Pine Forest from human activities, such as using sampling methods to measure species abundance and diversity over time.
The second question explains how human activity has increased nitrogen in ecosystems through fertilizer use and fossil fuel combustion, and the impacts like acid rain, soil acidification, and eutrophication.
The third question evaluates the role of Environmental Impact Assessments in different societies, noting they can empower communities but be biased if developers fund them, and may not be affordable or prioritized in all contexts.
How to Write ESS Essay Questions in Paper 2-First Exam 2017GURU CHARAN KUMAR
This document provides information about essay questions on the IB ESS exam. It notes that:
- Paper 2 Section B contains two essay questions worth 20 marks each from a choice of four.
- Each essay question has three parts (A, B, and C) with varying point values.
- Part C is marked based on mark bands and requires evaluation, synthesis, and justification.
- The document also outlines the assessment objectives for ESS, including knowledge, application, evaluation, and engagement with environmental issues. It provides examples of key command terms used in ESS essay questions like define, describe, and distinguish.
Rosegrant, Mark. 2023. Climate Change and Agriculture: Impacts, Adaptation, and Mitigation. PowerPoint presentation given during university-wide seminar. Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, March 30, 2023.
ESS Topic 3.2 - Resources as natural capitalBrad Kremer
Natural capital refers to natural resources that provide value to humans. Natural income is the growth or yield of natural capital over time, such as agricultural harvests, timber growth, or herd increases. For a resource to be used sustainably, only the natural income should be harvested, not the original stock, so that the resource is not depleted. The concept of sustainable development aims to meet current needs without compromising the environment and resources for future generations. However, defining and achieving sustainability can be debated, as views differ on how to balance environmental protection with economic interests.
The document discusses climate change impacts in Sudan. It notes that Sudan is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts due to factors like poverty, weak resource management, and environmental fragility. Key impacts include rising temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns exacerbating droughts and floods, threats to food security and water resources, and health impacts. The document outlines Sudan's climate zones and variability in rainfall. It recommends various adaptation strategies and projects focused on sectors like agriculture, forestry, rangelands, and health to build resilience to climate change.
Presentation by Rob Vos, Director for Agricultural Development Economics (ESA) at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
February 2, 2016
Washington, DC
This document summarizes key concepts from topics about systems and models, ecosystems, and human population and resource use covered in the IB ESS exam. It defines important terms like open and closed systems, feedback, and transfers and transformations of matter and energy. It also describes different biomes and their characteristics, ecosystem structure including food chains and trophic levels, and population interactions such as competition, predation, and succession. Finally, it discusses human population dynamics and factors that can limit exponential growth.
Ess topic 1 foundations of environmental systems and societies(first exam 2017)GURU CHARAN KUMAR
Topic 1: Foundations of environmental systems and societies (16 hours)
Big questions: This topic may be particularly appropriate for considering big questions A, C, D and E.
Sub-topic 1.1: Environmental value systems
Significant ideas:
• Historical events, among other influences, affect the development of environmental value systems (EVSs) and environmental movements.
• There is a wide spectrum of EVSs, each with its own premises and implications.
Knowledge and understanding:
• Significant historical influences on the development of the environmental
movement have come from literature, the media, major environmental disasters,
international agreements and technological developments.
• An EVS is a worldview or paradigm that shapes the way an individual, or group
of people, perceives and evaluates environmental issues, influenced by cultural,
religious, economic and socio-political contexts.
• An EVS might be considered as a system in the sense that it may be influenced
by education, experience, culture and media (inputs), and involves a set of
interrelated premises, values and arguments that can generate consistent
decisions and evaluations (outputs).
• There is a spectrum of EVSs, from ecocentric through anthropocentric to
technocentric value systems.
• An ecocentric viewpoint integrates social, spiritual and environmental
dimensions into a holistic ideal. It puts ecology and nature as central to humanity
and emphasizes a less materialistic approach to life with greater self-sufficiency
of societies. An ecocentric viewpoint prioritizes biorights, emphasizes the
importance of education and encourages self-restraint in human behaviour.
• An anthropocentric viewpoint argues that humans must sustainably manage the
global system. This might be through the use of taxes, environmental regulation
and legislation. Debate would be encouraged to reach a consensual, pragmatic
approach to solving environmental problems.
• A
Crop simulation model for intercroppingdebaaaaaaaa
This document discusses crop modeling approaches for assessing intercropping systems. It begins by outlining how crop models can help with problem identification, determining crop responses, choosing crops/cultivars, and evaluating new intercropping systems. It then explains that intercropping research lags monoculture research due to complex species interactions. Current research often only examines final yields, not interactions. Crop models can enhance intercropping research and adoption by farmers. The document categorizes approaches for modeling resource use in intercropping systems as de Wit, discrete crop-based, and dual-species canopy models. It provides examples of specific intercropping models and concludes with examples of model outputs comparing intercropping and monocropping
Agronomic-fortification is one such approach that involves the application of foliar fertilizers or combined soil
and foliar fertilizers, intercropping with pulse and crop rotation, which is a highly effective and practical way to
maximize the absorption and accumulation of micronutrients in the grain. It is also recognized as one of the cheapest
ways to reduce mineral deficiency in the human diet.
This document provides an overview of organic crop production, including:
1) It defines organic agriculture as an ecological system that promotes biodiversity and biological cycles without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
2) It describes the origins of organic agriculture in the United States, tracing back to the works of Albert Howard and J.I. Rodale in the early 20th century promoting natural soil fertility and composting.
3) It discusses some common misconceptions around organic agriculture, including that it means "doing next to nothing" or allows continued use of some prohibited materials, when proper organic standards require soil building and natural pest management.
ESS IA example - old syllabus - MLA formatBrad Kremer
This document shows the proper formatting and sequence of the required Internal Assessment for the IB Environmental Systems and Societies course (pre-2015 syllabus). It is written in MLA format in order to model the proper structure of a formal write-up.
1. The document discusses various types of pollution caused by human activities and their impacts. It defines pollution and describes different forms such as air pollution, light pollution, and point source versus non-point source pollution.
2. DDT is used as a case study to illustrate the conflicts between the utility of a substance and its environmental impacts. While DDT was widely used for malaria control, it bioaccumulated in ecosystems and contributed to thinning eggshells and declines in bird populations like bald eagles.
3. The costs of pollution are extensive and include impacts on human health, natural systems, and economic losses. Air pollution alone results in over $200 billion in lost income annually due to premature deaths.
soil organic carbon- a key for sustainable soil quality under scenario of cli...Bornali Borah
The global soil resource is already showing a sign of serious degradation (Banwart et al. 2014) which has ultimately negative impact on sustained crop yield and environmental quality. Due to intense rainfall and concurrent rise in temperature with changing climate, the fertile top soil is prone to severe degradation with depletion of SOC. Most soils in agricultural ecosystems have lost soil C ranging from 30 to 60 t C ha-1 with the magnitude of 50 to 75% loss (Lal, 2004). Hence, restoration of soil quality through different carbon management options will enhance soil health, mitigate climate change and provide sustained agricultural production.
This document discusses crop production and management techniques. It explains that manure and fertilizers are added to soil to provide nutrients for plant growth. Some examples of fertilizers include urea and ammonium sulfate, while examples of manure include cattle dung and plant residue. The document then discusses various irrigation methods like traditional well irrigation as well as modern techniques like sprinkler and drip irrigation. It also covers weed control, harvesting, threshing, winnowing, grain storage, and animal husbandry.
Beyond mitigation: forest-based adaptation to climate changeCIFOR-ICRAF
Forests and climate change adaptation are linked in two ways: first, through
adaptation for forests, because climate change will affect forests and so
they need help to adapt; second, through forests for adaptation, because
forests contribute to helping local communities and broader society adapt to
climate change. Both linkages are explored in this presentation, together
with the synergies between climate change mitigation and adaptation in
forestry projects. The possibilities and challenges in these ideas are
explored by using wetlands as a case in point. CIFOR and CIRAD scientist
Bruno Locatelli and colleague Emilia Pramova gave this presentation at the
FAO-UNEP Meeting on Forests and Climate Change Adaptation in Asia during October 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.
1) A pH meter works by measuring the potential difference between a glass electrode that responds to hydrogen ion concentration and a reference electrode with a known potential. The glass electrode selectively binds hydrogen ions, generating a potential based on the H+ concentration difference across the membrane.
2) The Nernst equation relates the measured potential to pH. At room temperature, pH equals the measured potential minus the reference electrode potential, divided by 0.05916 volts per pH unit.
3) Combination pH electrodes contain both the glass and reference electrodes in one probe for convenient measurement of the solution's pH based on its hydrogen ion concentration.
Operational Manual for Production of Vermicompostx3G9
This document provides instructions for producing vermicompost using earthworms. It describes collecting bedding materials like agricultural waste, preparing beds by layering materials and inoculating with earthworm culture, maintaining the beds, separating finished vermicompost and vermiculture, and analyzing the compost for nutrients. The goal is to produce organic fertilizer using waste recycling to improve soil fertility in a sustainable and cost-effective manner.
A Bioenergy Research Prospectus For Southern AfricaAshley Smith
This document summarizes a workshop focused on developing sustainable visions for integrated food-fuel systems in Southern Africa. The workshop brought together industry, academic, and government stakeholders from across the region. Key topics discussed included biomass feedstock availability and sustainability, conversion technologies, energy demands, and ensuring environmental, economic, and social sustainability of any bioenergy development. The document outlines several knowledge gaps around quantifying sustainable feedstock potentials, characterizing feedstocks, understanding appropriate conversion options, emissions impacts, and how to maximize social and economic benefits for local communities.
This dissertation explores interactions between agrobiodiversity and livelihoods among small-scale coffee farmers in El Salvador. It finds that farmers maintain crop diversity through cultivation of maize landraces for food security against climate variability and price fluctuations. While agrobiodiversity provided cultural value, there was no strong relationship between diversity and food security; income was a better predictor. Shade tree diversity in coffee farms was stable over time despite some tree removal. Higher initial shade tree species richness correlated with greater carbon storage in those trees.
This document summarizes a graduate research project report that applied systems thinking to understand deforestation in Vietnam's Central Highlands. The report developed a conceptual model of the dynamic interrelationships among drivers of deforestation in the region. It identified population growth, agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, poverty, and weak forest governance as key reinforcing processes that exacerbate deforestation. Current policies around migration, agriculture, hydropower, and afforestation were found to unintentionally worsen deforestation. The report argues a suite of integrated interventions is needed to weaken the reinforcing processes, including sustainable farming practices, alternative energy sources, strengthened forest protection programs, alternative livelihoods, and restricted timber extraction.
Organic farming provides more biodiversity than conventional farming according to most studies. Studies show enhanced levels of birds, bats, butterflies, small mammals, insects, invertebrates and soil organisms on organic farms. 16 of 19 plant studies and 62 of 82 overall studies found positive biodiversity effects of organic farming. Key reasons for higher biodiversity include avoidance of agrochemicals, crop rotation including grass/clover, mixed farming, permanent pastures, hedgerows and restricted manure/slurry use. Interactions between landscape, cropped and non-cropped habitats may explain some variability between study results. Organic farms can also extend biodiversity benefits beyond farm boundaries. However, more research is needed on biodiversity
This document outlines the pacing and content for a general biology curriculum across four units. It provides standards, big ideas, vocabulary and example activities for each unit. Unit 1 covers ecosystems, photosynthesis, cellular respiration and human impacts on the environment. Unit 2 focuses on cellular processes like cell division and differentiation, as well as homeostasis. Unit 3 addresses heredity, DNA, genes and protein synthesis. Unit 4 examines biological evolution, unity and diversity over time. Feedback mechanisms and the engineering design process are applied throughout.
This document provides an overview of research being conducted as part of a collaborative project on climate change and corn-based cropping systems. It summarizes research conducted by graduate students on topics including the impact of drought on soybean cyst nematode lifecycles and the effectiveness of seed treatments. Standardized data collection protocols are being used across multiple Midwestern states to measure soil, climate, pest, disease and other variables. Funding from the United Soybean Board expanded the research team and allowed for additional data collection on integrated pest management.
The Scientific journal “Norwegian Journal of development of the International Science” is issued 24 times a year and is a scientific publication on topical problems of science.
Assessing Climate Change Impacts And Indigenous Adaptation Strategies On Fore...Jeff Brooks
This document is a PhD thesis submitted by NwaJesus Anthony Onyekuru to the University of York in August 2014 on assessing climate change impacts and indigenous adaptation strategies on forest resource use in Nigeria. It contains an abstract that analyzes the impact of climate change and adaptation mechanisms among 400 forest community households in 5 ecological regions of Nigeria using survey, Ricardian, logit, and cost-benefit analysis models. The results show varying levels of forest dependence and that over 88% of respondents have perceived climate change impacts, with common adaptation strategies being agroforestry, erosion control, and changing operational dates. Determinants of adaptation include education, market access, and climate change awareness. The thesis indicates a high level of climate change
Minnesota - Effects of Rain Gardens on Water Quality
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For more information, Please see websites below:
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Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
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Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110 ~
1) The document discusses modelling ecosystem service trade-offs in agricultural systems using a case study in the Basque Country. It developed a conceptual model to assess how farming practices impact crop yields, water quality, climate regulation, and air quality.
2) The model found that increasing fertilizer had trade-offs, positively impacting crop yields but negatively impacting climate regulation through greenhouse gas emissions. It also found water supply impacted crop yields and soil water impacted emissions.
3) Model results showed changing manure application practices could significantly reduce emissions with some potential yield reduction, and limited tilling increased carbon sequestration without hurting yields. The model demonstrated the value of an integrated ecosystem services approach to agricultural management.
Human well-being is highly dependent on ecosystems and the benefits they provide such as food and drinkable water. Over the past 50 years, however, humans have had a tremendous impact on their environment.
To better understand the consequences of current changes to ecosystems and to evaluate scenarios for the future, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has launched a comprehensive scientific study, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.
What actions could be taken to limit harmful consequences of ecosystem degradation?
The Use of Agrobiodiversity by Indigenous and Traditional Agricultural Commun...Seeds
This document discusses strategies that indigenous and traditional agricultural communities use to adapt to climate change through agrobiodiversity. It analyzes over 200 case studies grouped into a conceptual framework. Key strategies discussed include ecosystem-based approaches like forest and landscape restoration, improving agricultural system resilience through agroforestry, diversified home gardens and crop/soil/water management, and maintaining inter- and intra-species diversity. A whole system approach is advocated that enhances resilience at ecosystem, farm, and genetic levels and through interactions between them.
Academia - SESSION 1: SRCCL - Context and Framingipcc-media
This document summarizes a presentation on the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land (SRCCL). The presentation discusses the outline and key topics that will be covered in the SRCCL report, including chapters on land-climate interactions, desertification, land degradation, food security, and interconnected relationships between these topics. It notes that the SRCCL will provide a more integrated analysis than previous IPCC reports by considering multiple direct and indirect drivers of natural resource management and their relationship to climate change, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes. The presentation concludes by emphasizing the importance of sustainable land management in response to the climate crisis.
The impact of agriculture on the environment is often discussed merely in terms of pollution due to
leaching of agrochemicals or to erosion of contaminated soil particles. As a matter of fact, however, more
important environmental problems are due to the imbalance or the lack of closure of nutrient cycles and to the
wrong choices made to this purpose. The natural role of agriculture is the re-utilization of wastes and effluents, no
more congenial today for the farmers themselves. It is necessary therefore to encourage farmers to play their
environmental role. The definition of sustainable agriculture does not prescind from this role, and it is possible to
stress the concept that agriculture, by playing this role, becomes the ground for a sustainable society.
This document proposes establishing a greenhouse hydroponic system at Skidmore College to achieve sustainable food procurement goals and provide educational opportunities. It discusses the benefits of hydroponics over traditional agriculture such as increased yields, reduced water and land usage, and year-round production. Several other colleges have successfully implemented hydroponic systems. At Skidmore, a small-scale system could supplement the dining hall with local produce and engage students across departments. A student survey found support for a hydroponic project. The document recommends a pilot hydroponic system be installed at the CIS greenhouse to test feasibility and support Skidmore's sustainability and strategic plans.
This document discusses how cultivating biodiversity can transform African agriculture. It argues that ecologically intensified farming systems that maximize the use of natural resources through increased biodiversity outperform conventional systems. Biodiversity at multiple scales optimizes plant functional traits, regulates pests and diseases, and amplifies biogeochemical cycles in soil. Examples show how intercropping, agroforestry, and plant diversification improve productivity while reducing inputs and externalities. Research needs to support context-specific, farmer-led innovation and the development of complex cropping systems adapted to local conditions through plant breeding and functional ecology. In situ conservation of agrobiodiversity must also be supported to ensure future resilience and adaptation.
Oklahoma Homeowner's Handbook for Soil and Nutrient ManagementFulvia52x
This document is an Oklahoma homeowner's handbook for soil and nutrient management. It discusses the composition of soils, including minerals, organic matter, air, and water. It describes how poor physical conditions like compaction can occur in soils and ways to improve the soil structure through practices like adding organic matter, using raised beds, and minimizing tilling when the soil is wet. It also provides background on the role of clay and organic matter in supporting soil life and nutrient retention.
the slide is made up from three different eco-design projects done during my study at Polytechnic of Turin under supervision of professor Bistagnino. these slides are put together in order to show the process of design from Macro to Micro scale ranging from a provincial vision in Iran, a village design in north Italy, a restaurant system and finally a home water system in Iceland. the process of design includes production, transformation and consumption which is always happening in a context.
Soil Health definition and relationship to soil biology
Characteristics of healthy soil
Assessment of soil health
Framework for evaluating soil health
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This document is a thesis presented by Nicholas Adam Read to Ohio State University in partial fulfillment of a Master of Science degree in Horticulture and Crop Science in 2013. The thesis examines the effects of different mulch treatments on weed suppression and collard crop performance in a low-input urban agriculture system. The mulch treatments included newspaper alone, black plastic alone, a cover crop alone, newspaper over a cover crop, black plastic over a cover crop, and a control with no mulch or cover crop. Field studies were conducted in 2011 and 2012 to evaluate the effects of these mulch treatments on soil temperature, soil moisture, weed growth, costs of weed removal, and collard plant growth and yield. The results of these field
Similar to ESS INTERNAL ASSESSMENT 2019-SURVEY & SIMPSON DIVERSITY (20)
I am pleased to present an outstanding Sample ESS IA that secured an impressive 28 out of 30 marks, resulting in a remarkable 7-point score. This exemplar serves as a valuable reference and resource for your ESS class, offering comprehensive insights and invaluable guidance for both students and educators alike.
Key Points:
Exceptional Achievement: The IA achieved a remarkable 28 out of 30 marks, showcasing excellence in content, research, and presentation.
7-Point Performance: Scoring a perfect 7 points in the IA demonstrates a deep understanding of Environmental Systems and Societies.
Educational Resource: This exemplary IA serves as an educational resource, providing a model for structuring, researching, and presenting ESS projects.
Invaluable Insights: Reviewing this IA will offer invaluable insights into what constitutes a high-scoring ESS IA, helping students aim for excellence.
Guidance for Students: Students can utilize this IA as a reference to enhance their own IA projects, aiming for similarly outstanding results.
Educator's Tool: Educators can use this IA to exemplify quality work to their students, facilitating better understanding of assessment expectations.
We encourage you to make the most of this exemplary ESS IA as a guiding light in your pursuit of excellence in Environmental Systems and Societies studies.
This document outlines an investigation into the effect of carbon dioxide emissions on temperature in the USA and UK from 2009-2019. The research question asks to what extent different levels of CO2 concentration in the USA vs the UK affect average temperature. Secondary data on CO2 emissions and average temperature in both countries will be collected from credible sources over the 10-year period. The hypothesis is that there is a correlation between CO2 concentrations and temperature trends, and differences in CO2 levels between the countries will result in differences in temperature trends. Key variables are CO2 concentration as the independent variable and average temperature as the dependent variable.
The document contains contact information for ESSGurumantra.com with their Gmail ID repeated in 14 lines. It concludes by listing their social media profiles and podcast/music platforms where users can follow the organization, including their website, Facebook, YouTube channel, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, SlideShare, Pinterest, Spotify, SoundCloud, and Google Podcast.
The document discusses various topics related to genetics and biotechnology including genetic engineering, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA profiling, and genetically modified foods. It provides definitions and explanations of key terms and processes such as how PCR is used to amplify DNA, the steps involved in PCR including denaturation, annealing and elongation, and how gel electrophoresis can be used to analyze PCR products. It also summarizes techniques like DNA profiling that are used for forensic investigations and paternity testing.
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The document is an exam for the Environmental Systems Standard Level course, consisting of 30 multiple choice questions testing various concepts related to environmental science. Some of the topics covered include population ecology, energy flow, greenhouse gases, the carbon and nitrogen cycles, and atmospheric structure. The exam is 45 minutes long and candidates are instructed to choose the single best answer for each question and mark their choice on an answer sheet.
The document provides lists of top 10 websites in various categories that are useful for career development and job searching. These categories include sites for careers, in-demand tech skills in 2019, learning Excel for free, free online education, reviewing resumes for free, and preparing for interviews. The lists highlight popular websites like LinkedIn, Coursera, Khan Academy, Leetcode, and ResumeGenius that can help with tasks like networking, developing skills, getting education/training, improving resumes and interview skills.
Very interesting - Can you guess what is common between all these prominent temples.
If your answer is, they all are Shiva temples, you are only partially correct.
It is actually the longitude in which these temples are located.
They all are located in 79° longitudes. What is surprising and awesome is that how the architects of these temples many hundreds of kilometers apart came up with these precise locations without GPS
1. Madurai is unique as it is guarded by 3 surrounding hills and was once full of Kadabam trees.
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3. Gandhi Museum was originally the palace of Ranimangammal and is the only museum dedicated to Gandhi outside of India. It houses the blood-stained shawl Gandhi was wearing when assassinated.
K.Guru Charan Kumar, IB ESS Teacher at Pathways World School, Aravali discusses the importance of taking his IB students on field trips that enhance the learning they do in the classroom. Over the past year, K. Guru has shared numerous adventures with the IB community and we asked him to reflect on why field experience is central to his teaching.
Guru Charan Kumar KANAHAVEL attended the IB Asia Pacific DP Category 1 & 2 Workshops in Singapore from August 10-12, 2012 for the subject Environmental Systems and Societies. The certificate certifies his participation in subject sessions at the workshops organized by the IB Regional Office for Asia Pacific and led by experienced IB practitioners.
My mission is to deliver world-class international education power point presentation through the provision of high-quality curricula, assessment and services for the IGCSE EVM.
A wide range of materials and resources is available through my Slide share to support teachers and learners in Cambridge schools. Resources suit a variety of teaching methods in different international contexts.
The content of this power point presentation is designed to encourage reflection on the limits to growth and sustainable development for IGCSE EVM.
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My mission is to deliver world-class international education power point presentation through the provision of high-quality curricula, assessment and services for the IGCSE EVM.
A wide range of materials and resources is available through my Slide share to support teachers and learners in Cambridge schools. Resources suit a variety of teaching methods in different international contexts.
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The content of this PowerPoint is structured as a series of learning outcomes that lay out what candidates should know, understand and be able to analyze and discuss.
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My mission is to deliver world-class international education power point presentation through the provision of high-quality curricula, assessment and services for the IGCSE EVM.
A wide range of materials and resources is available through my Slide share to support teachers and learners in Cambridge schools. Resources suit a variety of teaching methods in different international contexts.
The content of this power point presentation is designed to encourage reflection on the limits to growth and sustainable development for IGCSE EVM.
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The most engaging component of ESS & Geo IBDP is the coursework/fieldwork which culminates in an Analytical report based on Primary Data which the students gather and work upon. In this context we are all set to embark on our journey to Sundarbans Delta (UNESCO World Heritage site) which is located in Kolkata. This year 41 IBDP students with 4 teachers ventured for the very first time in the country to visit the Sundarbans(Kolkata) for the field trip.
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I have made a presentation titled ESS Exam Statistics 2010-2015 and for this presentation, I have taken data from the IB Statistics bulletin for the ESS exam.
This presentation will give you an idea about how ESS, as a subject is growing worldwide from 2010- 2015 and it will give an understanding about various figures related to ESS exam.
This presentation will help you understand various features about ESS exam globally and you can use this presentation for your ESS subject introduction class, subject review and other assessment meetings.
Andreas Schleicher presents PISA 2022 Volume III - Creative Thinking - 18 Jun...EduSkills OECD
Andreas Schleicher, Director of Education and Skills at the OECD presents at the launch of PISA 2022 Volume III - Creative Minds, Creative Schools on 18 June 2024.
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Table of Contents
Abstract ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Criteria 1 – Identifying the context ..................................................................................................... 4
Aim...................................................................................................................................................... 4
Research Question (RQ)..................................................................................................................4
Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 4
Environmental Context...................................................................................................................5
Criteria 2 – Planning............................................................................................................................. 5
Planning............................................................................................................................................... 5
Background Information.................................................................................................................5
Simson’s Diversity Index.................................................................................................................... 5
Location............................................................................................................................................... 6
Variables ............................................................................................................................................. 6
Controlled Variables .......................................................................................................................6
Other Variables for Ecological Footprint............................................................................................ 7
Apparatus Required............................................................................................................................. 7
Sampling Strategy Justification (Ecological Footprint)...................................................................... 7
Procedure (Ecological Footprint)........................................................................................................ 8
Controlled Variables for Simpson’s Diversity Index.......................................................................... 9
Independent Variables for Simson’s Diversity Index ......................................................................... 9
Dependent Variables for Simpson’s Diversity Index........................................................................ 10
Apparatus Required......................................................................................................................10
Sampling Strategy Justification (Simpson’s Diversity Index).......................................................... 10
Procedure (Simpson’s Diversity Index)............................................................................................ 10
Risk Assessment................................................................................................................................ 11
Hypothesis ....................................................................................................................................11
Scientific Justification....................................................................................................................... 11
Criteria 3 – Result and Analysis ........................................................................................................ 11
Ecological Footprint............................................................................................................................ 11
Data Collection .............................................................................................................................11
Simpson’s Diversity.......................................................................................................................... 13
Raw Data.......................................................................................................................................13
Data Processing and Results (Simpson’s Diversity Index)............................................................... 19
Data Processing (Ecological Footprint) ............................................................................................ 22
Standard Deviation.......................................................................................................................23
Criteria 4 – Discussion, Evaluation and Conclusion........................................................................ 27
Discussion and Data Analysis........................................................................................................... 27
Real Life Examples ........................................................................................................................29
Evaluation ......................................................................................................................................... 30
Ecological Footprint......................................................................................................................30
Simpson’s Diversity Index....................................................................................................... 31
Conclusion......................................................................................................................................... 31
Modification and Alternative Methods of Research ......................................................................... 31
Published Source ..........................................................................................................................32
Criteria 5– Application....................................................................................................................... 33
Bibliography ........................................................................................................................................ 34
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Abstract
Farmers from Maldevta Village, who work in the lowest sector of the economy, have minimal land
and resources to help them grow crops. This obligates them to enter the hills with their cattle to
allow grazing. Farmers also clear some forest areas, to increase their farm land for more income,
thus reducing the biodiversity. As a result of the reduced in forest area and resources, wild animals
invade villages and destroy farmlands. In some cases, because of minimal knowledge of the chemical
Pesticides, it’s overuse affects not only the farmland, but also nearby water resources as it leads to
eutrophication. This relates to my RQ because after surveying the villagers and collecting the raw
data from the Simpson’s Diversity index it allowed me to evaluate the effect of human intervention
on the natural environment and thus evaluating the effect of Ecological Footprint.
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Criteria 1: Identifying the context
Aim
The aim of this report is to investigate how activities of villagers affect plant diversity and how
knowledge of the environment can help bring changes to lives through the sustainable use of
resources.
Research question (RQ)
How does the ecological footprint of the villagers of Maldevta and their knowledge of the
changing environment due to agricultural processes, affect the species living and growing
around the area?
This question supports the analogous effects and comparison of Ecological Footprint (EF) and
the species diversity of plants in the Maldevta village. The plant diversity (dependent variable),
which not only is affected by the natural factors like sunlight (independent variable) and pH
(dependent variable), but also by human interaction (dependent variable) which affects growth.
Introduction
The focus of this investigation is an analogy of EF in two villages of Dehradun. Semi-
urbanization in one, where inhabitants have better housing facilities, sanitation etc. Women
dependency on men was apparent despite the younger generation being encouraged to study.
In comparison, the real challenge was the second village, which is in a remote area,
underdeveloped due to lack of basic amenities such as proper sanitation and minimal
electricity. All families work in fields for their survival and education. Despite these
challenges, both dwellings have a footprint on the ecosystem.
Consequently, the EF influences the plant and animal species of the adjacent areas. By this
investigation, the effect on plant species is calculated through Simpson’s Diversity. The
random sample of this activity is conducted at mid-distance from both the villages.
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Environmental Context
INDIA, a land of villages with farming as the
primary source of livelihood is shown in the
image is a rough indicative of the
productivity.
Every year, farmers increase their EF by
extracting resources, burning firewood,
resultant, a release of greenhouse gases
contaminating the air. Grazing, further
increases EF and a reduction of plant species.
Yearly activity causes significant depletion in
the plant diversity causing the village
inhabitants to relocate and continue farming
which increases the load on the soil, and, in
some extreme cases, led to exhaustion in the
level of oxygen and nutrients.
Criteria 2: Planning
Planning
To conduct the practical, 3 areas were chosen. Area 1 and 2 were villages where a survey was
conducted. Villagers were asked questions about their daily activities to understand their EF.
Area 3, near a river and mid distance from both villages was where Simpson’s diversity index
was carried out to know how intervention affect the species growing.
Background information
Simpson’s Diversity Index (SDI)
The SDI provides information about community composition i.e. species richness; they also
take the relative abundances of different species into account. The formula for calculating the
Diversity Index is mentioned under Data Processing on page 17.
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Location
Variables
Controlled Variable for Ecological footprint
Variable Units Why to control? How to control it?
Time of the day Morning /
evening
Apt timing for farmers to
answer our questions.
Visited homes of farmers &
requested them to help us
answer the survey.
Number of
questions
9 questions Interactive and open-ended
questions to avoid irrelevant
answers.
Probing questions about their
lifestyle gave us more
knowledge about their EF.
Number of
questionnaires
30
questionnaires
completed
All houses were asked about
their views on the
environmental changes.
More surveys are able to give a
holistic view.
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Other variables for Ecological Footprint
Types Variables Impact
Uncontrolled Variables • Weather of the day when
the survey was conducted.
• Population of the village.
• Good weather conditions allowed
us to spend time in the village.
• Higher population helped more
data collection.
Independent Variables • Age of the people whose
survey was conducted.
• The area they live in.
• Older people might have more
information about the
surroundings.
• Developing and underdeveloped
areas have a different perspective.
Dependent Variables • Accuracy of their answers
were dependent on their
knowledge and
understanding of the
question.
• The villagers time taken to
answer the questions.
• Accurate answers would impact
the analysis of data.
• If too much of the farmer’s time is
wasted they may get irritated and
give illogical answers.
Apparatus Required
• Questionnaire – Our teacher helped us with the questionnaire of the survey.
• Pen or pencil to write down notes and information the villagers provided us.
Sampling Strategy Justification
Ecological Footprint Survey
The topography of the two villages are very similar, however collecting an average of 30
surveys helped achieve a justified evaluation because the point of view of different villagers
who have been inhabitants of the area for years provided knowledge to evaluate their ecological
footprint and assess the effect of their dependence on the ecological system.
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Procedure
1. Before starting for the trip to Dehradun, research was conducted to gather information
about the villages and plant diversity in Maldevta village.
2. Questionnaires were formed to fit the and the questions were re-written in the Hindi so
that it would be easier for us to ask the villagers.
3. When we reached the village, observations were made to assess the living standards
and the population of the area.
4. The questions were then structured according to the requirement in order to receive the
maximum amount of information and spending the least amount of our time with the
families.
5. The houses chosen in the village by a method of random sampling in order to reduce
the chance of any biasness. Also before the question answer session was conducted, the
family members were asked if they are comfortable answering questions.
6. Interviews conducted informally in the houses, in the common language, Hindi, so that
the villagers would not be intimidated by the idea of their visitors being the city folk.
7. Photographs were clicked of the villagers and of us performing our practical to support
the evidences that we have added.
8. After the data collection was complete, we made basic observations of the villages to
notice the effects of human activity on the plant diversity.
9. The graphs and data collected in analysed further in the analysis in order to draw
conclusions about the effect of human intervention.
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Controlled variables for Simpson Diversity Index
Variables Units Why to control it? How to control it?
Quadrat size 50 cm X 50 cm Different sizes of the quadrats
give different results of the
distribution of the plant
species.
Keeping all the sample sizes
the same provide better
results.
Sample size 7 samples The results may not be
suitable if large samples are
not collected
The practical was carried
out 7 times. The more times
the activity is carried out,
the more information we
get.
Location Ecological
community type
Variations can be seen as
environmental differences in
the areas impacts the data
collected.
Areas where the sample is
collected should be
carefully chosen to get a
proper result.
Independent Variables for Simpson’s Diversity
Variables Units Impact
Sunlight High or low Better sunlight suitable for
plants to grow, however
extreme heat can make the
soil dry
Soil quality More fertile or less fertile If the fertility level is high,
then there would be more
species
Altitude High or low Sunlight intensity and
presence of nutrients
decreases as the altitude
increases.
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Dependent Variables for Simpson’s Diversity
Variables Units
Number of species Individual plants population
Biodiversity Species, habitat, genetic diversity
Presence of animal species Death and birth rate of the animal species living in the area.
Apparatus Required
Sampling Strategy Justification
Simpson Diversity Index
The raw data was collected mid-distance from two villages, where human intervention, thus
Ecological Footprint, would be encountered by the environment from both sides. This provided
a wide range of information about the plants that were present. The experiment was carried out
at 7 different distances, twice, to allow us to avoid uncertainties for the growing saplings.
Procedure
1. To obtain the information about species diversity, the area where the practical was
conducted was examined. Then the quadrat was placed randomly to avoid a biased
outcome.
2. The plant species were identified and was separated into the different categories.
3. Names were given by alphabets to make the identification of the plans easier.
4. A note was made of the number and diversity of species in the quadrat.
5. The process was conducted 9 times at a distance of 5-10 meters apart.
6. The data collected was processed with the help of our instructor to ensure we have the
correct data.
7. To answer the research question, the Simpson Diversity formula was used to
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Risk Assessment
Hypothesis
Relating to my RQ, the topography of Maldevta Village elevated level of human intervention
triggered a decrease in the diversity of plant species. The mid-distance from both villages,
where the species diversity practical was conducted, helped calculating the effect of human
intervention on plant life and their growth laterally with the dependent and independent
variables, barring the unchangeable.
Scientific justification
Agriculture has a significant effect on biodiversity because of its prevalence over the landscape.
Effects include habitat alteration, exotic pest introductions and pollution from pesticides etc.
This affects the underground water and the river near human settlements. It can also cause
runoffs of pesticides and fertilizers that are applied in abundance to commercial crops.
Understanding the environment is a central idea to allow people to cut back on their EF,
whether it is through reduction of domestic waste or farmers keeping a check on the agricultural
processes.
Criteria 3: Result, Analysis and conclusion
ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT
Data Collection
Data collection was a day’s long process where I visited the villagers and asked them
questions about their lifestyle. Focused questions were formed previously with the help of our
teacher to get precise answers based on their knowledge of the area. The qualitative data
collection process that recorded the response are appended below –
1. What mode of transport do you use most often?
2. How much time do you spend travelling to the city and back?
3. Do you recycle the waste you accumulate and/or pick up on the roadside?
4. How many bags of waste do you accumulate in a month’s time?
5. On a daily basis, how much electricity do you use?
6. Do you think that an increase in the population has affected the plant diversity?
7. Do you think the animal diversity has reduced after an increase in the population?
8. Are you concerned about the plants disappearing due to deforestation?
9. What is the most recent thing you purchased that runs on electricity?
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On the day of the survey data collected from about 30 houses… most of the answers were
repetitive as they live similar lifestyles. These are provided in the following table –
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• SIMPSON’S DIVERSITY
Raw data
The plant species found mid distance from both the species are the following –
Plants were differentiated in such a manner as all 9 all unknown and wild. The table above
shows symbols of the nine planets of the solar system used to define them.
Simpson Diversity Index
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Data Processing and Results
• Simpson’s Diversity Index
To calculate the species diversity of the area, the following formula will be used –
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Standard deviation
Standard deviation is a measure of how spread out the data of a set of variables is. The
following formula is used to calculate the standard deviation of the different sample
areas.1
1
Pearson’s – Environmental systems and societies, page 139
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Criteria 4: Discussion and Evaluation
Discussion and Data Analysis
The purpose of this lab is to examine effects of the human activities from two different villages
on plant diversity. My RQ explores ‘the effect of human intervention and their knowledge
about the depleting environment that affects the plant growth’ in brief, explains how farmers
spread across an area, develop it according to their needs, but sometimes ignore the effects on
the environment. The survey conducted in the villages, gathered an outline of information
concerning human intervention and their knowledge about their contribution to the
environmental changes. The experiment conducted in the field, collected information about the
27. 27 | P a g e
plant diversity at different distances to convey the approximation of the density and the scarcity
of the plant population.
Human intervention in ecosystems is one of the leading causes of depletion of natural habitats.
The ecosystem has the capacity to hold only a certain load under which it is able to renew them,
thus Ecological Footprint need to be kept under check to allow the regeneration to happen.
Ecological Footprint defined as the impact of human activities, measured in terms of the area
of the biologically productive land and water required to produce the goods consumed and to
assimilate the wastes generated2.
Tables 1.1 - 1.7 show seven different areas where the SDI experiment was conducted which
according to our instructor is located approximately mid-distance from the two villages. From
the calculations, it can be seen that the land was extremely barren. The average of each plant
species varies from 0.86 to 4.71, which show high human intervention from both the villages
in opposite directions.
Urbanization, animal grazing etc for agricultural processes cause soil erosion, salinization and
loss of habitat in the area. The species diversity index calculation seen in the graph 6 shows
how people do not realise that farming effects plant growth to such large extent that the process
of succession is altered repeatedly.
Graph 3 shows the domestic waste generated by each household which mostly consists of
plastic bags and other farming residues. After an informative conversation with the locals it
2
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/teacher_resources/webfieldtrips/ecological_balance/eco_footprint/
Graph 6
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was evident that they were unaware about recycling useful farm wastes and would usually
dump these resources into the forest. This leads to mixing of plastics with the soil, creating
toxins and thus the degradation.
Use of electricity, shown in graph 4, is fairly balanced. Many villagers who do not have basic
amenities like lights to use at night are dependent on the renewable resources like firewood.
Which lead to increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, cutting down trees for firewood
leads to soil erosion and a fall in the number of plants photosynthesizing reduces the conversion
from CO2 to O2. The increasing dependence also increases their ecological footprint.
A negative effect is created on the ecosystem as the earth is not able to sustain the human
activities. The Earth should be able to renew all its resources within one year’s time, however,
because of the rising EF, now it takes 1.5 years to do so.
To answer the Research Question, the ecological footprint of the local inhabitants of Maldevta
seems to increase every year. This leads to a reduction in the plants diversity which is linked
to my hypothesis as an increase in ecological footprint reduces the biodiversity.
Real Life Example
The Amazonian rainforest has the world’s highest abundance of plant and animal endemic
species with the largest number of freshwater fish in its river basin. However, because of the
unsustainable development, the rainforest is seen to be the biggest deforestation fronts with
many irreversible disasters due to many human activities.
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Since 1978 approximately 289,000 square miles of Amazon rainforest have been destroyed
across Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Guyana, and French Guiana.3
Evaluation
Ecological Footprint
Limitation Impact Improvement
Length of questionnaires Answering irrelevant questions
could lead the respondent to
provide random answers.
Questionnaires could be made
specific and short to avoid the
villagers to get irritated.
Lack of Quantitative data The questions asked to the
respondent based more on their
knowledge thus, analysis and
graphical representation would
become difficult.
Solution based questions can
be created which the villagers
choose an option they find
most suitable.
Uncertain responses Villagers could be ambiguous
about questions that we ask them
because they were not cultured
with the thought of
environmental degradation.
Questions could be made easier
for the villagers to understand.
For example, by talking in the
language and ask them
questions about the subject
they understand the best.
3
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/amazon/amazon_destruction.html
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Simpson Diversity index
Limitation Impact Improvement
Quadrat Size If every square on the
quadrat measures a different
area, there will be an
incorrect measurement of
the Simpson’s diversity.
Avoiding too small or too
large squares on the quadrat
by dividing the area into
equal smaller parts so that
more samples could also be
included in the study.
Samples per area Too few samples would not
be enough for the calibration
of the data.
The more areas sampled, the
more variation calculated,
thus making it easier to
evaluate data.
Number of species identified More species counted could
create imprecise readings
because of the presence of
minor variations leads to
double counting.
Spending more time with the
data collection to avoid any
mistakes in the calculations.
Conclusion
The discussion above, relating to my RQ helps to conclude a higher footprint creates low
chances for plant diversity to increase because high human intervention curbs the plant
growth. According to my hypothesis when there is an increase in the EF due to continuous
changes made in the landscape there is a disturbance the process of succession, preventing
any visible changes to occur for a prolonged period. Thus, my hypothesis is true as area 3,
mid distance from the villages has low biodiversity as a result of human activities.
Modification and Alternative Methods of Research
The best method to reduce the fall in diversity is by educating the local population about the
importance of the biodiversity and the human dependence on the scarce natural resources to
motivate them to improvise their agricultural techniques. Villagers could be educated about
the use of organic fertilizers, like manure or degradable farm waste, thus, reducing the need
for chemicals like NPK.
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Another method to reduce the use of fertilizers is by informing the villagers about the
negative effects of monocropping and promoting crop rotation, thus preventing the fall in the
quality of the soil by zapping out the useful nutrients.
Because, many villagers also practice animal farming, villagers could be taught to avoid
feeding the animals in a single area and continuously shift the feeding ground to avoid
overgrazing.
Published source4
The average human's ecological "footprint" around the world is rising because human
populations are increasing and they are destroying biodiversity hot spots where animal and
plant species are found moving to extinction. Overall, 75 per cent of the Earth's land surface
is experiencing human impacts and the remaining 25 per cent are mostly places like deserts
and mountains with low diversity probably because they are already exploited.
4
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/human-footprint-1.3733738
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Criteria 5: Application
Solution Strength Weakness
Efficient Farming – organic
crops
Energy of the farmers is
saved as lesser resources
would be used when the
crops are growing.
Farming can be burdened by
higher costs.
Government to take
initiative to control the
pollution levels
Increase in awareness of the
harm and persuasion to use
resources that do not affect
the environment.
Increase in the governments
costs to educate the villagers
about the environmental
problems.
Laws can be introduced to
control the dumping of
wastes.
Dumping wastes can only be
done in particular areas thus
avoiding the harm on crops
wherever the waste is
thrown.
Increased costs of
monitoring where the waste
generated by the farmers is
dumped.
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Bibliography
http://gurumantra.wikispaces.com/Internal+Assessment+Criteria
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/human-footprint-1.3733738
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/amazon/amazon_destruction.html
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/teacher_resources/webfieldtrips/ecological_balance/ec
o_footprint/