How Can Nature Be Used as a Tool to Restore Ecosystems?

• This animated video and article explains that preserving and restoring natural ecosystems is a powerful and necessary solution to climate change.
• It describes how allowing natural ecosystems to flourish increases photosynthesis, balances ecosystems, provides many other benefits to humans, and increases the storage of extra carbon from the air. 
• Students will learn that each component of the ecosystem plays a valuable and necessary role in keeping the entire ecosystem, and our planet, healthy. 

Positives

• This engaging video offers a variety of ways that nature can heal the planet, if allowed to.
• The article includes a number of excellent links to other videos and resources where students can learn more.
  

Additional Prerequisites

• This video can be accompanied by this Table of Solutions and this video about the many solutions we'll need to address climate change and live sustainably on this planet.

Differentiation

• Advanced students could read more about the rationale behind the video in this scientific paper.
  
• Science classes could use this video as a hook before making food web posters to explore the roles that organisms play in promoting carbon storage.
• Ecology, biology, and environmental science classes could watch this video when discussing the carbon cycle, keystone species, and population dynamics.
• Social studies classes could discuss the importance of maintaining natural ecosystems for Indigenous cultures and intergenerational justice.
  
• Other resources on this topic include this video about nature-based solutions to climate change, this biome map activity, and this ecosystem services activity.
  

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.