GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE CAMBRIDGE IGCSE: BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM LOSS.

1. BIODIVERSITY AND
ECOSYSTEM LOSS
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
CAMBRIDGE IGCSE P3

2. BIODIVERSITY DEFINITION
• the word biodiversity is short for ‘biological diversity’ and simply
means the variety of life on earth
http://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/biodiversity/

3. QUESTIONS FOR YOUR
RESEARCH PROJECT

4. GLOBAL/INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES
• Why are plant species threatened?
• How can existing material/mineral resources be maintained?
• How would we judge whether the loss of a number of plant or animal
species constituted a disaster?
• Are humans themselves becoming more, or less, diverse?

5. LOCAL/NATIONAL PERSPECTIVES
• How can habitats (plant and animal) be maintained?
• What projects/initiatives are there in my country for maintaining
resources and/or finding alternative sources?

6. FAMILY/PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES
• How do I and my family and friends use existing material/mineral
resources?
• Do I do anything to threaten plant species?
• What steps can I/we take to reduce ecosystem loss?

7. WEBSITES 1
http://globalissuesnetwork.org/learn-about-our-global-
issues/biodiversity-and-ecosystem-loss/
www.whyorganic.org - Soil Association in UK website.
www.foe.co.uk - Friends of the Earth website. UK-based charity website
that campaigns for solutions to environmental problems.
www.plantcultures.org.uk - Website demonstrating the importance of
South Asian plants. Downloadable resources aimed at UK schools but
could have some relevance in other contexts.

8. WEBSITES 2
www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/safeguarding_the_natural_world/index.cfm -
World Wildlife Fund website. Identifies threats to the natural world and
campaigns against damage to the natural world. Schools section offers
resources and ideas.
www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/biodiversity/ - UK Natural History Museum
biodiversity site. Information about what biodiversity is and how to measure
it. Some UK-focused information but also general information for students in
an international setting.
www.trees.co.za/ - Food and trees in Africa.
www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/educators.html - Resources for
teachers.
www.biodiversity911.org/EducationalResources/EducationalResources.html
WWF educational resource centre.