Environmentalists Internet Hunt

Learn about people who have taken a stand for the environment.
Essential Question - How can people positively impact their biome?
Directions: Harness the new window trick to use this hunt. Hold down the control key as
you click on the linked words to open a menu.
Select open new window with this link. After you find the answer, close the new window.
You should see the Environmentalist Hunt once again.
1. Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring warned people about what problem?
When she published Silent Spring in 1962, Carson went against agricultural scientist
and government practices. She called for a change in perspective humans viewed natural
world. Even though she was criticized by chemical industries and some parts of
government as an alarmist, she courageously spoke out to warn that humans are a
vulnerable part of natural world that are subject to same damage as rest of ecosystem.
How did people respond to her book?
EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency, themselves, believe that "There is no
question...that SILENT SPRING prompted the Federal Government to take action against
water and air pollution as well as against the misuse of pesticides several years
before it otherwise might have moved." It has also been credited as inspiring the
environmental movement.
2. Name two parks that John Muir helped establish.
Muir drew much attention to devastation of mountains meadows and forests by sheep and
cattle. He worked hard to remedy this destruction and thanks to his large efforts, an act of
Congress created Yosemite National Park. Muir was also personally involved in creation
of the Grand Canyon national parks, and Sierra Nevada park.
What tool did Muir use to persuade people to value nature?
Since Muir was an extremely good writer, it was through his love of nature in his writing
that he was able to get to so many people. He ended up publishing 300 articles and 10
major books that recounted his travels, expounded his naturalist philosophy, and
beckoned all to join in his love of nature.
3. How did Theodore Roosevelt help to preserve America's natural beauty?
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With Roosevelt in office, more than 200 million acres of land in the U.S. was conserved.
He also established the first National Bird Preserve in Florida in 1903. This was the start
of the Wildlife Refuge System in the U.S.. This was the first of many acts by President
Roosevelt to conserve land and important historical and archaeological sites throughout
the U.S.. He also establish the United States Forest Service and passed the Antiquities Act
in 1906 which allowed presidents to preserve sites as national monuments without
needing approval of Congress. This act also allowed Theodore Roosevelt to protect the
Grand Canyon after failing to make it a national park. Many national parks and preserves
were set up by President Roosevelt.
4. What was Gifford Pinchot's belief about our National Forests?
Pinchot is well-known as one of America's leading advocates of the environment and
conservation towards the end of the 20th century. In 1890 he turned forestry conservation
and environmental awareness into a national movement. He was appointed as Head of the
Division of Forestry in 1898 by Theodore Roosevelt and was later named Chief Forester
of the United States Forest Service. With Pinchot as chief, national forests in the USA
increased from 32 in 1898 to 149 in 1910 and encompassed an area of 193 million acres.
Together, Pinchot and Roosevelt made environmental conservation a public issue and a
significant part of domestic policy.
5. What important book about the environment did Carl Safina write? What is his
message?
Safina's book, Song for the Blue Ocean, is being compared in importance to Rachel
Carsons dire news delivered in Silent Spring decades ago. He feels that internationally
ordinary people are beginning to pay price in lost jobs and cultures, lives ruined, land
destroyed and wild creatures disappearing in record numbers as we plunder world seas
and coastlines. If depletion continues at such high levels, pretty soon there will nothing to
eat. Energy inefficiencies, habitat disruption, pollution and displaced local people
accompany much of the world's attempts at aquaculture. Politicians, he thinks, are
beginning to realize that depleting species is not just an "environmental" issue, it also
costs money and jobs.
Have his predictions proved true? Consider this article. Or select another example that is
of interest to you.
Yes, it is obvious that his predictions are quite accurate. According to the article the low
abundance of salmon stocks can lead to all marine and freshwater fisheries being affected
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negatively. Not only can the consequences be environmental but implications of a
precipitous decline could be substantial for both commercial and recreational fisheries
coast wide, resulting in financial downfall.
6. Jacques Cousteau was one of the greatest conservationists of the 20th century.
How did he advocate for the underwater world?
He advocated mainly through his films. He left his mark forever when Cousteau and his
teams embarked aboard Calypso to explore the world and saw for himself the
environmental degradation present in the sea. No one yet knew about effects of pollution,
over-exploitation of resources and coastal development. The films of Calypso's
adventures drew public's attention to potentially disastrous environmental consequences
of human negligence. This inspired a lot in the environmental movement.
7. What animal species did Dian Fossey study? What happened to her?\
Dian Fossey studied mountain gorillas and worked to preserve the habitats of these
mountain gorillas. Unfortunately on December 26, 1985, her body was discovered near
the research center. Presumably, Dian Fossey had been killed by poachers of the
mountain gorillas trying to fight them.
8. You are concerned about a local policy's impact on a species. You decided to contact
the
government agencies that protect species.
Which two agencies identify species to be put on the endangered species list? (Look it
up)
The responsibility for administering the ESA is shared by two government agencies
the Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) in Department of Interior, and National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) in Department of Commerce. NMFS deals with most species
in marine environments, and FWS is responsible for land and freshwater species and
migratory birds. Both agencies oversee process for listing species and development of
recovery programs for protected species
How does the President influence these decisions?
The presidents are the ones that end up finalizing the listing and delisting of each animal
proposed for the Endangered Species Act.
9. How did Julia Butterfly Hill fight to save a redwood tree?
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After 738 days of living in the canopy of an ancient redwood tree, Julia successfully
compromised to permanently protect a 1000 year old ancient redwood tree she called
Luna. She had a lot of help of steelworkers and environmentalists and was able to make
sure the public became more aware of the destruction of ancient redwood trees and how
certain companies would not adequately protect forests and species.
10. Select a Goldman Prize winner. Describe how the person had a positive effect on the
environment.
Raoul du Toit: This man who constantly works in hot African climate has coordinated
conservation initiatives that have helped to develop and maintain largest remaining black
rhino populations in Zimbabwe, therefore maintaining the ecological food chain and not
disturbing natural animal consumption events.
11. What is one issue related to the environment that is impacting your community?
My neighborhood lives near a lake that, thanks to Hurricane Irene and water pollution,
has decreased in species population.
Write one thing you will do to be more environmentally friendly.
I will recycle more frequently and never litter in air/land/water.
12. In 2004, Wangari Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. What has been her
environmental cause?
Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt movement in Kenya in 1977, which has planted
more than 10 million trees to prevent soil erosion and provide firewood for cooking fires.
A 1989 United Nations report noted that only 9 trees were being replanted in Africa for
every 100 that were cut down, causing serious problems with deforestation: soil runoff,
water pollution, difficulty finding firewood, lack of animal nutrition, etc. Maathai has
since then been elected in her country as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Environment
Natural Resources and Wildlife in 2003.
Evaluate - Has her goal been achieved?
Yes, I think so. Death tolls in Africa by bad smoke from burning of trees for cooking fires
has decreased drastically since then thanks to her hard efforts.
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13. Mary Walton's inventions sought to fix environmental problems.
Select one of her inventions and explain how it improved people's lives.
In 1879, Walton developed a way of minimizing environmental hazards of smoke that
was constantly fuming unchecked from factories all over nationally. Walton's system
deflected negative emissions being produced into water tanks, where pollutants were
retained and then flushed into the citys sewage system.
14. High School Student is Biofuel Whiz-kid - What is the big message behind this
student's efforts?
Since he wants a sustainably agricultural way of producing energy in his house, he
invented a type of biofuel that is not only drastically cheaper than fossils fuels but also
eco-friendly. Knowing he wants a career in \green industry, the students efforts were to
find more methods of successful energy production while simultaneously being
environmentally aware and friendly.
Extra:
Utilize your online research skills to find a person (not mentioned above) who has made a
contribution to an environmental issue.
Write an informative essay about what they did or are doing.
Dr. Edward O. Wilsons groundbreaking research, original thinking, and scientific and
popular writing have changed the way humans think of nature, and our place in it. Wilson
has been increasingly concerned with the human-induced environmental degradation and
loss of biodiversity on Earth. He has been a leader in bringing this concern to the
scientific community, the public, and politicians through giving presentations at
universities and conferences, working with environmental organizations, and writing and
editing numerous articles and books. Today he devotes much of his efforts towards
conservation iniatives; he is on the Board of Directors of Conservation International, the
American Museum of Natural History, and The Nature Conservancy. Since editing the
book Biodiversity in 1984, which introduced the term "biodiversity" and brought
worldwide attention to the topic, Wilson has been considered by many to be "the father of
biodiversity." In 1998 he delivered a slide show in the US Senate in support of the Act to
Save America's Forests, a bill that would protect and restore native biodiversity
throughout the federal forest system.
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