Question

Conservation Activity

What roles do society, politics, and economics play in science?

Discovering the roles and influence that society, politics, and economics have on science takes some practice. Sometimes these influences are not obvious but appear only after a solution to the problem has been tested over a period of time.

These articles describe conservation problems and solutions that were influenced by scientific, social, economic, or political issues. As you read each article, take note of the sections that represent these factors. You will use these articles in your assignment for this lesson.

Using Forests Wisely
Forest
Community Conservation
Sky view of a town

Using both of the articles, answer the questions below. You can answer questions on a word processing document and upload it for grading, or you can submit answers to questions directly. Be sure to review the grading rubric before you begin.

Summarize the scientific information that leads to conservation in each of the articles.
What social issues affected the problem or its solution in each of the stories?
How did economics delay scientists' first attempts for conservation in each story?
Describe the political actions that led to successful conservation in both stories.

Answer 1

1A) The articles are expressing that how each field affects conservation. They also talk about problems and solutions that are influenced by social, economic, or political issues.

2A) If people stop cutting down as many trees, there won’t be as many resources from that such as paper may be the cost will go up. Companies will be mad if people stop them from doing business, cutting down trees, and making money for example some experiences people had when they confronted companies went like this, "We had chief executives slamming the phone down on us. I even had people threaten to punch me." But there are a lot of good things happening such as a lot of materials are made that are FSC certified so you can have a clear conscience.

3A) If people are cutting down trees, then those companies aren’t getting money then they lose job opportunities without people there doing their jobs then no products like paper can be made. Also, if trees aren’t being cut down clearing space places like houses or malls can’t be built there. There are some solutions though like what FSC certified places do is after they cut down a tree they plant a new one in that exact spot.

4A) A lot of countries are becoming FSC certified such as Russia. Just a little bit ago Russia had a very little forest that was FSC certified now it's 260,000 sq. km—a quarter of its commercial forests. 40 percent—of the forest area of Europe and North America is certified by the FSC...