Subject Guide
Growing pressures on major wetlands and efforts to protect them, such as the Ramsar Convention - Case study of the future possibilities for one wetland area.
a. What is a wetland?
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Use the videos below, the Ramsar Convention factsheet and your student textbook to briefly outline the following:
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b. Why are wetlands under threat?
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Use the WWF website (click right) to ensure that you are able to explain at least four reasons why wetlands are under threat.
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Ramsar is the oldest of the modern global intergovernmental environmental agreements. The treaty was negotiated through the 1960s by countries and non - governmental organizations concerned about the increasing loss and degradation of wetland habitat for migratory waterbirds. It was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.
The Convention uses a broad definition of wetlands. It includes all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and salt pans.
Under the “three pillars” of the Convention, the Contracting Parties commit to:
The Convention uses a broad definition of wetlands. It includes all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and salt pans.
Under the “three pillars” of the Convention, the Contracting Parties commit to:
- work towards the wise use of wetlands;
- designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of International Importance (the “Ramsar List”) and ensure their effective management;
- cooperate internationally on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems and shared species.
| what_is_the_ramsar_convention_all_about_.pdf |
d) Case Study: The Everglades and the Kissimmee River
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Draw and annotate a simple sketch map which shows the location of the Kissimmee River and the Everglades in Florida. Your map should include:
Based on your map evidence, try to suggest answers to the following:
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https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/kidsyouth/water-water-everywhere.htm
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Threats to the Everglades
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Use the student textbook or your own research to answer the questions below:
1. Relate overpopulation and farming to damage to the Everglades. (p124) 2. Outline the human water uses on the Everglades and their impact. (p125) 3. What are the good and bad effects of tourism on the Everglades? (p126) |
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Kissimmee River threats and restoration
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4. Explain the problems the channelization of the Kissimmee River caused and what was done to solve it, using the attached YouTube and the pdfs below.
Create a table to summarise the restoration and evaluate its effectiveness.
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Management and restoration of the Everglades
Future possibilities for the Everglades:
- Read p127 of the student book carefully and summarise the main points.
- What are the causes for optimism in the Everglades wetland area?
- What are the sources of concern for the future of the Everglades?
https://www.evergladesrestoration.gov/sferp/
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/local/environment/2018/01/03/florida-could-spend-1-billion-everglades-reservoir-project-but-work/997967001/
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https://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/sugars-decades-long-hold-over-florida-everglades-came-with-a-price/2285007
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https://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/fl-op-column-randy-schultz-washington-everglades-restoration-20180612-story.html
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