SS 8– Geography 03 - Human/Environment Interactions

Human/Environment Interactions

The environment means different things to different people, depending on their cultural backgrounds and technological resources. A South American Amazon Indian tribe would have a different interaction and impact on their environment than a western multinational corporation such as British Petroleum (BP) has had in the Gulf of California.

In studying human/environment interaction, geographers look at all the effects—positive and negative—that occur when people interact with their surroundings. Sometimes a human act, such as damming a river to prevent flooding or to provide irrigation, requires consideration of the potential consequences. The construction of the many dams in the Kootenays, for example, has changed the natural landscape, but it also created a reservoir that helps provide water and electric power for that region and regions a far. By studying the consequences of human/environment interaction helps people plan and manage the environment responsibly.

In 1971, Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss), wrote the story “The Lorax” about the negative interactions that can (and has) occurred between humans and the environment. The central theme of the story is that unregulated, uncontrolled abuse of the environment for human consumption and greed will result in drastic negative consequences for the environment.

Watch the video of “The Lorax” and then complete the following worksheet.

Object: The objective of this lesson is to get you to think about how you and your community impact your local environment on a seasonal basis, and provide helpful suggestions as to how a balance can be made between human needs and the needs of the environment.

Directions: Complete the table below, and provide example of how human interactions during different seasons affect our local environment. Once completed, share your ideas with a friend, discuss as a class and come up with some possible suggestions that can be used to help. The first one has been done for you.

You will be marked out of 3 for your ability to identify human activities that occur during a particular season. You will be marked out 3 for your ability to identify how those activities impact the environment and out of 3 for your ability to formulate a reasonable, possible solution, for a total assignment mark of 9

Local Human/Environmental Interactions

Spring
Human Activities / Impact / Possible Solutions to lessen the impact of humans on the environment.
  • Spring planting
  • Lawn and field fertilization
/
  • Tractor exhaust from mechanized farming
  • Ground contamination from fertilization
/
  • Use cleaner burning fuels
  • Use more organic fertilizer such as liquefied manure from winter stockpiles.

Summer
Human Activities / Impact / Possible Solutions to lessen the impact of humans on the environment.
Fall
Human Activities / Impact / Possible Solutions to lessen the impact of humans on the environment.
Winter
Human Activities / Impact / Possible Solutions to lessen the impact of humans on the environment.