Second-biggest Direct Threat to Species After Habitat Destruction
Articles/Websites
Grades9, 10, 11, 12, APBiology, Civics
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by World Wildlife Fund
What it is
- This detailed article introduces students to the concept of wildlife trading, which occurs whenever people sell or trade living wild animals, wild animal products or body parts, or wild plants.
- Students will learn about why people trade wildlife, the scale of the problem, why wildlife trading is a problem, and many examples of wildlife trading around the world.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This resource features a wealth of information about many aspects of the wildlife trading problem.
- There is an infographic and links to the IUCN and CITES websites for further research.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should feel comfortable reading about animal cruelty.
- The link for the first video does not work.
Differentiation
- This resource would work equally well in science or social studies classes, as it connects to ecosystems and species extinctions as well as human behaviors and the environmental effects of consuming certain products.
- Connect this article to climate change through nature's importance as a climate solution and biodiversity's importance for ecosystems to function properly.
- Try using this resource to have students debate the different solutions posed and decide which one is the most feasible and effective.
- As an extension, have students create posters or infographics that promote awareness of the problems posed by wildlife trading.
From the scientist review
The resource from the World Wildlife Fund presents the effects of the wildlife trade, the second biggest threat to species after habitat destruction. The website provides a brief overview of the wildlife trade, why it occurs, and why it's a problem. Links are provided for additional information about invasive species, additionally a fact sheet about wildlife trade and a report on the role of the European Union in the global wildlife trade is provided. This resource would be a great addition to a classroom discussion about additional threats to wildlife, outside of climate change and habitat destruction.
How we review resourcesReady to use it?
Hosted on wwf.panda.org
Want this to fit your class?
Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.
