Mapping the Darien Gap

• This video and the accompanying comprehension and data analysis questions introduce students to the efforts of Indigenous people in Darién, Panama, to protect the tropical rainforest on their land from deforestation and illegal encroachment using images taken from drones.
• The worksheet includes comprehension, critical thinking, and data analysis questions, as well as maps and graphs.
  

Positives

• The downloadable video and worksheet are also available in Spanish.
• By the end of the lesson, students will be able to develop scientific explanations and describe how mapping can contribute to the sustainable development of protected lands.

Additional Prerequisites

• The entire activity should take about 1 hour to complete.
• It is recommended that students read the questions from the worksheet before watching the video.
• In the worksheet, students will also be asked to analyze and draw conclusions from bar graphs.

Differentiation

• Have students reflect on Indigenous peoples' vital role in conservation and climate action as land defenders.
• Have students consider why Indigenous land rights are important for Indigenous peoples and the climate.
• Engineering and technology classes can use this resource to connect to lessons about the benefits of technology and recent advancements in digital images, cameras, file storage capacity, and drones for use in conservation and other scientific fields.
  
• Use this article to learn more about the impact of Indigenous land tenure and this lesson to learn more about Indigenous communities' connection to the environment.