Places and Landscapes in a Changing World

MODULE 9
Lesson 9: Understanding and Preserving Global Landscapes
Lesson Overview

This module is designed to be interactive and engaging, encouraging students to explore and
understand the importance of preserving the world’s landscapes.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

(a) Identify different landscapes in the world.

(b) Discuss various ways of preserving endangered landscapes.

Activity: Expectation vs Reality

Students will share a certain experience they had where they went to a certain place expecting something
about that place but ultimately realizing that their expectation is different from what the reality is.

Introduction to Preserving Endangered Landscapes

Preserving endangered landscapes and places is essential for maintaining biodiversity, ecosystem
services, and cultural heritage. By employing various approaches and strategies, we can ensure the
conservation and protection of these vulnerable areas.

Ways of Preserving Endangered Landscapes and Places

1. Protected Areas and Reserves

National Parks and Reserves: Designating areas as protected zones helps safeguard critical ecosystems
and habitats. Strict regulations control human activities within these areas to minimize disturbances and
ensure the preservation of biodiversity.

2. Habitat Restoration

Rehabilitation of Degraded Areas: Restoring degraded habitats through planting native vegetation,
controlling invasive species, and implementing erosion control measures can revitalize ecosystems.

Wetland Restoration: Efforts to restore degraded wetlands contribute to water purification, flood
control, and habitat preservation.
3. Sustainable Land Use Planning

Zoning and Land Use Policies: Implementing land use plans that prioritize conservation and sustainable
practices help balance human needs with the protection of natural landscapes.

Green Infrastructure: Integrating green spaces into urban planning helps maintain biodiversity,
promote ecological connectivity, and enhance overall resilience.

4. Community Engagement

Community-Based Conservation: Involving local communities in conservation initiatives ensures their

active participation, promotes sustainable practices, and helps build a sense of ownership over natural
resources.

Indigenous and Local Knowledge: Incorporating traditional knowledge from indigenous communities
can offer valuable insights into sustainable land management practices.

5. Education and Awareness

Environmental Education: Promoting awareness and understanding of the value of endangered

landscapes fosters a sense of responsibility and encourages sustainable behaviors.

Tourism Management: Implementing responsible tourism practices helps minimize the impact of
visitors on delicate ecosystems while providing economic benefits to local communities.

6. Biodiversity Monitoring and Research

Scientific Research: Conducting studies on flora, fauna, and ecosystems provides essential data for
conservation planning and adaptive management strategies.

Remote Sensing and Technology: Utilizing technology, such as satellite imagery and remote sensing,
helps monitor changes in landscapes and assess the effectiveness of conservation efforts.

7. Legislation and Policy Frameworks

Environmental Laws: Enacting and enforcing laws that protect endangered landscapes, regulate
development, and punish illegal activities are fundamental for conservation efforts.

International Collaboration: Participating in international agreements and collaborations helps address

transboundary conservation challenges and promotes a unified global approach to preservation.
8. Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

Carbon Sequestration: Preserving forests and other natural habitats contributes to carbon
sequestration, helping mitigate climate change.

Adaptation Strategies: Implementing strategies to help ecosystems adapt to climate change, such as
creating wildlife corridors for species migration, enhances overall resilience.

9. Conservation Easements and Land Trusts

Legal Agreements: Landowners can enter into conservation easements or agreements with land trusts,
limiting certain land uses to ensure long-term protection while allowing sustainable activities.

10. Financial Incentives

Ecotourism: Developing ecotourism initiatives can provide economic incentives for local communities
to protect and conserve natural landscapes.

Payment for Ecosystem Services: Providing financial incentives for landowners to maintain ecosystem
services, such as water purification and carbon sequestration, encourages conservation.

Different Natural Landscapes in the World

1. Mountains

The Himalayas (Asia): Home to the world's highest peaks, including Mount Everest.

The Andes (South America): The longest mountain range in the world, stretching along the western
edge of South America.

The Himalayas Andes Mountains

2. Deserts

Sahara Desert (Africa): The largest hot desert in the world, known for its vast sand dunes.

Atacama Desert (South America): One of the driest deserts on Earth, located in northern Chile.

Sahara Desert Atacama Desert

3. Forests

Amazon Rainforest (South America): The largest rainforest, known for its incredible biodiversity.

Taiga (North America, Europe, Asia): The world's largest biome, characterized by coniferous forests.

Amazon Rainforest Taiga Biome

4. Grasslands

Prairies (North America): Vast expanses of grasslands, particularly in the central United States.

Savannas (Africa): Tropical grasslands with scattered trees and shrubs.

Prairies Savannas

5. Tundras

Arctic Tundra (North America, Europe, Asia): Cold, treeless landscapes characterized by permafrost
and unique flora and fauna.

Arctic Tundra
6. Islands

Hawaiian Islands (Pacific Ocean): A volcanic archipelago known for its diverse ecosystems and
landscapes.

Galápagos Islands (Pacific Ocean): Famous for its unique wildlife that contributed to Charles Darwin's
theory of evolution.

Hawaiian Islands Galapagos Islands

7. Caves

Mammoth Cave (United States): The world's longest known cave system, located in Kentucky.

Waitomo Glowworm Caves (New Zealand): Known for the bioluminescent glowworms that illuminate
the cave.

Mammoth Cave Waitomo Glowworm Cave

8. Coastlines

Great Barrier Reef (Australia): The world's largest coral reef system, renowned for its marine
biodiversity.

Cliffs of Moher (Ireland): Dramatic sea cliffs rising along the Atlantic Ocean.

Great Barrier Reef Cliffs of Moher

9. Wetlands

Everglades (United States): A vast, subtropical wetland ecosystem in Florida.

Pantanal (South America): The world's largest tropical wetland area, known for its biodiversity.

Everglades Pantanal

10. Canyons

Grand Canyon (United States): A massive canyon carved by the Colorado River, known for its stunning
geological formations.

Fish River Canyon (Namibia): One of the largest canyons in Africa.

Grand Canyon Fish River Canyon

11. Volcanic Landscapes

Yellowstone National Park (United States): Home to geothermal features, including geysers and hot
springs.

Mount Fuji (Japan): An iconic stratovolcano with cultural and spiritual significance.

Yellow Stone National Park Mount Fuji

12. Glaciers

Jökulsárlón (Iceland): A glacial lagoon with icebergs, located at the edge of Vatnajökull National Park.

Franz Josef Glacier (New Zealand): A dynamic glacier descending from the Southern Alps.

Jökulsárlón Franz Josef Glacier

ACTIVITY: INTERACTIVE BOOK
Students will be grouped into three to five (3-5). They will then research different types of natural
landscapes, such as mountains, deserts, forests, grasslands, tundras, islands, caves, coastlines,
wetlands, canyons, volcanic landscapes, and glaciers. After that, they will investigate how these
landscapes are being preserved, including any threats they face and conservation strategies in
place. In the book creation process, this will serve as the outline:
Title Page: Create a title page with the name of your interactive book and the names of group
members. (Only include those that helped)
Table of Contents: List the sections of your book for easy navigation.
Sections: Organize your book into sections, with each group responsible for a different landscape
type.
Conclusion: Summarize the key points on the importance of preserving natural landscapes.
Text: Write detailed descriptions of each landscape type, including specific examples from
around the world.
Preservation: Discuss the methods and strategies used to preserve these landscapes,
highlighting successful case studies.
Interactive Elements:
Incorporate interactive elements such as:
Hyperlinks: Add hyperlinks to additional resources for further reading.
Quizzes and Activities: Create short quizzes or activities to engage readers and test
their knowledge.
Design and Layout:
Use paper, pens, markers, and printed images to craft a visually engaging book. Ensure
pages are well-organized and content is easy to follow.

Content Accuracy: Verify the accuracy of the information provided.

Grammar and Spelling: Check for grammar and spelling errors.
Interactive Elements: Ensure all interactive elements work as intended.
Rubrics for Grading