Joshua McQueen Q3 Benchmark

Unit Essential Questions: What value do we see in the biodiversity and natural resources of the earth? Biodiversity and natural resources offer a wide range of invaluable benefits to humanity. They provide essential ecosystem services like air and water purification, contribute to medical advancements through medicinal resources, ensure genetic diversity for resilience, hold cultural and spiritual significance, drive economic activities, attract tourism, mitigate climate change, and regulate nutrient cycles. Protecting and conserving these resources are vital for sustaining ecosystems, societies, and future generations. What human actions are associated with altering earth’s natural systems? Human activities like deforestation, pollution, overfishing, climate change, unsustainable agriculture, urbanization, invasive species, water mismanagement, waste generation, and mining have significantly altered Earth’s natural systems, leading to biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, and environmental degradation. Solutions involve adopting sustainable practices, conserving resources, protecting ecosystems, and mitigating climate change. How can individuals, communities and or nations live more sustainably? Individuals, communities, and nations can live more sustainably by reducing consumption, conserving energy, minimizing waste, and supporting sustainable practices. This includes promoting conservation efforts, adopting eco-friendly transportation options, and advocating for policy changes that prioritize environmental sustainability. By embracing these actions collectively, we can work towards a more sustainable future for generations to come. Reflection Questions: How did this project deepen your understanding of sustainability? This project even though it may seem like I didn’t do anything for it I did find out multiple facts like sustainable practices can help mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting renewable energy, and enhancing energy efficiency and sustainable agriculture practices, such as organic farming and agroecology, aim to minimize environmental impacts, preserve soil health, and promote biodiversity. What information about your chosen industry surprised you most? Why? Something that surprised me the most was the fact that palm trees didn’t produce a lot of oxygen so it was safe to cut them down but it was also smart coming up with the whole planting two more because at the end of the day even though it doesn’t produce much it still is something. Another thing that I found interesting was the whole palm oil and cupcakes because I’m just big backed. How did you contribute to your groups project? Provide specific examples. What were you proud of, in terms of your overall project? Like I mentioned before I wasn’t able to help out a lot because I was taken out of class due to volleyball or mini-course meetings/grading but I did throw out some ideas and help where I was told to help and that was it because I wasn’t shared into anything or told anything. I don’t have access to the slides or any pictures.