Eco-Tourism: A New Perspective on Travel

Travel Africa Biomes: terrestrial climax communities with wide geographic distribution. Biomes describe what the world would be like if people had not altered the natural environment

Biomes What does the word terrestrial mean? Earthly: of the earth What is meant by a ‘climax community’? The community that eventually forms if the land is left undisturbed. A maple forest will always be a maple forest without serious disturbances.

Why Biomes? Biomes give us a great VISUAL of an area’s natural factors Biomes allow us to see an area WITHOUT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Biomes show us areas with COMMON FACTORS Biomes do not rely on POLITICAL BORDERS eg. Deserts

Deserts

Add these notes to your fill in! Image from: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. World Geography Today. Revised Edition. Austin, TX: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1997.

Why Biomes? The greatest reason for using Biomes for this task, is that of RESEARCH. Once you have established which BIOME(S) your country includes, you can research all the Biotic and Abiotic information you need!

Biomes How have humans altered the landscape in the last 300 years? DEVELOPMENT Human impact on the environment

Eco Tourism Plan! What is Eco-Tourism? responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people and environment.

Your Eco Tourism Plan! You and your team have been selected to represent one specific country along the Small World Big Picture: Expedition Africa route in the up coming “Terrestrial Biomes Eco- Tourism Adventure!” show.

Your Eco Tourism Plan! You and your group are to research your country and advertise both the biotic and abiotic factors that are present, and connect these factors to examples of possible Eco-Tourism opportunities that exist in this country.

Examples of Eco Tourism in Canada! The following is an example of a LEVEL 3 project that was designed for Biomes in Canada. You must decide where you would make the necessary changes to receive a Level 5. Please refer to the “Trip Planning Sheet” and the Rubric for guidance.

THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN

WHAT IS THE TUNDRA ? The Tundra is a remote, desolate area between the northern icecaps and the tree lines of southern Arctic regions. The tundra is itself treeless and it’s permanently frozen subsoil supports low-growing vegetation such as lichens, mosses and stunted shrubs.

Understanding Permafrost Permafrost occurs when a layer of the earth called the subsoil is permanently frozen throughout the year.

Vegetation Lichens Mosses Shrubs Warmth-preserving plants Ground hugging plants

Wildlife Arctic Fox Caribou Ermine Lemmings Grizzly Bears Musk Ox Polar Bear Snowy Owl Harlequin Duck

Summer Temperature July and August make up the summer months where the temperature never gets warmer then 45 or 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Wind is always a chill factor as it blows constantly in the summer. Top layers of ice under the ground begin to melt and create bogs and shallow lakes which don’t drain.

Winter Temperature Winters in the tundra are very cold and dry. The sun barely rises leaving it dark for the majority of each day. Temperatures do not reach above 20 degrees the Fahrenheit, the average being between – 20 degrees Fahrenheit and –30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Precipitation The tundra receives a mere 6 – 10 inches of precipitation per year, which includes melted snow. The tundra receives almost as little snow as some of the world’s driest deserts. The tundra seems to be a wet boggy place because permafrost does not allow for drainage, however high winds and cold temperatures make is one of the driest places in the world.

Ecotourism Canoeing/Camping Tundra buggy Dog sledding Canoeing is great on the many rivers that run from the mountains through the forests and across the tundra. Tundra buggies provide safe observation points form which to view polar bears and walrus that live in the areas of northern Ontario and Manitoba. Dog sledding is also an option in the snowy areas of the tundra because of the flat surface.

Your Eco Tourism Plan! 1.Choose a group of 3 or 4 people. 2.Record your group members in the box matching your country. 3.Complete the “Trip Presentation Organizer” 4.Presentation (Due Date and Closure Date) on __________________________

Good luck!