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Mini Case Scenarios
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Most people have visited a zoo on that classic field trip in elementary school. We fed the goats, pet the giraffe, saw the butterflies, and rode the hay-filled wagon. Or maybe you did none of that and just heard about them through the grapevine. Regardless, the effectiveness of zoos has been a long debate. On the one hand, the Zoos keep wild animals, born to run free in various environments, often trapped in cages unfit for such creatures. According to Environmental Conscience, the care they receive is questionable and the frequent visitor engagement is not always wanted by the animals...
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More than 1 million species are on the path to extinction over the next few decades, however, there is still hope in stopping this tragic trajectory. This extinction crisis effects every taxon, from amphibians to birds, fish, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles, and plants. Our ecosystem is so interconnected, extinction of just one species has a ripple effect on multiple others still in existence. When an animal species is lost, a whole set of characteristics is as well. Genes, behaviours, activities and interactions with other plants and animals in their environment are lost that have evolved over millions and billions of years. Naturally, this can have catastrophic effects as its role in the ecosystem is eliminated and can cause the extinction of other species, if not the whole ecosystem...
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Indigenous and local community rights are integral to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 15 (SDG 15) in Canada. Indigenous peoples and local communities possess traditional knowledge, cultural practices, and stewardship of land that contribute significantly to the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) recognizes the rights of Indigenous peoples to their lands, territories, and resources, emphasizing their crucial role in environmental management. In Canada, the recognition and implementation of Indigenous and local community rights align with SDG 15's goal of ensuring life on land, fostering biodiversity conservation, and promoting sustainable land management...
Discussion Topics
- How might we best utilize research facilities to attempt to resolve issues?
- Engage in a discussion about the importance of biodiversity conservation on land.
- Discuss the challenges and impacts of land degradation and desertification.
- Discuss the relationship between sustainable agriculture, food security, and land use. Explore topics such as agroecology, regenerative farming practices, and the importance of preserving fertile soils.
- Debate the challenges and opportunities in achieving sustainable agriculture practices while ensuring food security for growing populations.
- Discuss strategies for promoting biodiversity conservation, including reforestation, habitat restoration, and the preservation of endangered species.
- Explore strategies for promoting sustainable forest management, community-based forestry, and the restoration of degraded forest ecosystems.
- Debate the effectiveness of international regulations, law enforcement efforts, and community-based conservation initiatives in combating wildlife trafficking.
- Discuss the importance of recognizing and respecting indigenous land rights for biodiversity conservation.
- Debate the importance of sustainable land management, land restoration techniques, and the role of local communities in combating land degradation.
Assessment Ideas
- Position Paper: Pick a life on land issue and create a project proposal for why and how QUBS can resolve it.
- Research Paper: Explore topics such as poaching, smuggling, and the impact on endangered species and ecosystems.
- Case Study Analysis: Provide students with a case study that highlights a specific conservation or restoration project focused on land ecosystems. Ask them to critically analyze the case study, evaluate its outcomes, and identify key factors contributing to its success or challenges.
- Policy Brief: Conduct an assessment of a specific land use policy or framework. Evaluate its effectiveness in promoting sustainable land use practices, conserving biodiversity, and addressing land degradation.
- Group Presentation: Develop a sustainable forestry management plan for a specific forest area. Assess the current state of the forest, analyze the social, economic, and environmental aspects of forestry activities, and propose strategies for sustainable timber production and forest conservation. Present your management plan, including logging guidelines, reforestation strategies, and community engagement approaches.
- Data Analysis and Recommendations: Develop a community-based conservation project that engages local communities in land stewardship and biodiversity conservation. Identify a community, assess their needs and interests, and propose strategies for collaboration and capacity-building.
- Communications Strategy: Develop an ecosystem restoration plan for a specific degraded or threatened ecosystem. Assess the current state of the ecosystem, identify key drivers of degradation, and propose strategies for restoration and conservation.
Additional Resources
Faculty Subject Matter Experts
You may wish to contact one of the following departments who may have subject matter experts in this area:
Environmental Biology ( ; )
Experiential Learning Contact
Christina Dinsmore (pronouns: she/her)
Associate Director, Experiential Learning & Programming
asc.el@queensu.ca
- Blanchard, P., Boetsch, G., & Snoep, N. J. (2011). Human zoos : the invention of the savage (D. Dusinberre, C. Penwarden, S. Pleasance, & F. Woods, Trans.). Actes Sud.
- Labchuk, C. (2023, March 28). Lucy should be moved to sanctuary, says expert on assessment panel. Animals Justice.
- Rose, P. E., & Riley, L. M. (2022). Expanding the role of the future zoo: Wellbeing should become the fifth aim for modern zoos. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1018722–1018722. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1018722
- Taylor, J. A., & Duram, L. A. (2021). Linking personal experience to global concern: How zoo visits affect sustainability behavior and views of climate change. Sustainability 13(13). https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137117