Mapping the Powerful Impact of Forests

• This video describes an interactive map that was created to document the world's forests as carbon sinks or sources. 
• In creating this visual, researchers determined that the world's forests take up and store twice as much carbon as they release, however there is regional variability based on land-use practices and other variables. 
•  Users can zoom in on different forests to determine if the region is a carbon source or sink and observe forest cover.

Positives

• This video describes the concept of forests as carbon sources and sinks while integrating technology and collaboration to visualize an environmental problem.

Additional Prerequisites

• Students should be familiar with the carbon cycle.
  

• More background information about the creation of this interactive map can be found here.

• The Global Forest Watch Interactive Map is available here.

Differentiation

• If choosing to have students explore the carbon flux map, pairing students may be helpful to aid in the navigation of maps and to enrich discussion.
• Other similar resources include this interactive data resource, this article, and this video.
  

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