004 - Freshwater wetland management
Syllabus Point
Describe (AO1) the role of wetlands as a water resource.
Evaluate (AO3) the effectiveness of the management strategies that have been adopted in a major wetland.
Key Terminology
- Describe
- Evaluate
- Wetland
Define the terms above using your 'IB Geography. Course Book' by Cooke and Nagle, the command term posters in the classroom and the useful links below.
Useful Links
Activity One - Describe
In the past wetlands have been seen as swamps; breading grounds for mosquitoes and disease. Today their value is being recognised both in terms of their valuable biotic resource and as a prevention to flooding.
- Using the image under the syllabus points, what does a wetland look like?
- Name the five largest wetlands in the world.
- What are the main roles of a wetland?
- What types of flora and fauna survive in a wetland?
Useful Resources
Activity Two - Example
You will be developing a case study of a specific wetland but do remember that the emphasis is on the effectiveness of management strategies. You can also link this to competing demands for water as well as how agriculture can impact water sources. Things to include:
- Location map
- What type of wetland is it?
- Who uses the wetland area and for what purpose? How could this lead to conflict?
- What damage has been caused to the wetland?
- What management has been put in place? How successful has that management been? (Cost-benefit analysis)
There are two examples that you can choose from:
- Norfolk Broads, UK
- Kissimmee, USA
Useful Resources
1 - Norfolk Broads
- 'Planet Geography' by Stephen Codrington Pages 332-340