Where Have All the Mangroves Gone?
Podcasts
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by The Climate Question
What it is
- This podcast examines why mangroves are disappearing and what can be done to slow or reverse this alarming trend.
- Listeners will learn how mangroves can slow climate change and build climate resilience for communities.
Teaching tips
Positives
- Students will learn about the many benefits that mangroves provide, including their ability to sequester more carbon than most other trees and their ability to protect communities from flooding and storms.
- The podcast focuses on case studies of mangrove forest loss in many locations around the world, including Madagascar, Indonesia, and Nigeria.
Additional Prerequisites
- Teachers may want to show students some pictures of mangroves before listening to this podcast.
- The podcast does not include a transcript, so teachers may want to pause the podcast and check for student understanding.
Differentiation
- Cross-curricular connections could be made with history and social studies classes when discussing international climate agreements and government climate policies.
- Economics classes could use this podcast to discuss the challenges that developing countries face when making economic decisions that could destroy natural resources and worsen climate change.
- Resources related to this topic include this lesson plan about mangrove trees, this resource on the importance of mangrove trees, and this video about mangrove research in the United States.
From the scientist review
The podcast raises awareness of mangroves' contribution to carbon sequestration. The Indonesian government and its citizens are acting to restore their mangroves in an effort to combat climate change, while the Nigerian government and its citizens are destroying the mangroves. In Nigeria, there is a dearth of information regarding the impact mangroves have on the environment. However, it is more cost-effective to preserve the ecosystem of existing mangroves rather than cultivating new ones because it will take a long time for the new mangroves to significantly reduce carbon emissions. There are no contradictions in this podcast. It is advised to use this resource when instructing.
How we review resourcesReady to use it?
Hosted on bbc.co.uk
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