Blue Planet Prize Story

Learning about acid rain during her childhood, Professor Daily decided to become a scientist to help society solve the problems such ecological damage brought about.
At the start of her carrier as a biologist, she became involved in the conservation of untouched nature. However, after she discovered the wealth of ecosystems on plantations in Costa Rica, she realized the importance of nature in biospheres inhabited by humans and established the field of countryside biogeography, which seeks to clarify the mechanisms of ecosystems in the countryside.
Likewise, she thought it would be of the essence to increase the public's awareness of the economic value of nature. To put the concept into practice, she established the Natural Capital Project (NatCap) to raise the awareness of national governments around the world about the value of nature and to encourage them to implement the evaluation of its benefits into national policies.
She dreams of creating a world where children can play in nature. Please pay attention to the energy she devotes to expanding the range of her activities to make that dream come true.

Learn about nature around us

[ Purpose ]

Professor Daily has focused on the countryside that has been significantly affected by human activities. Here we learn about the wealth of ecosystems and benefits of the countryside around us.
Let's imitate the research style that Professor Daily uses. First, we survey countryside around us to find it includes a wealth of ecosystems more than we expect through fieldwork. Next, like the computer software InVEST that Professor Daily and her team developed, we make a map of ecosystem services to see what kind of benefits we receive from nature.

1. Check ecosystems around us

Students select an element of nature such as a forest, river, vegetable field, or park near their home or school. Then, they observe the nature, note the geographical features, plants and animals they observe, and their relationships.
It might be more accessible for students living in urban areas to choose a park near their home, and for students in more rural areas to choose a vegetable field. The critical point is that each student should choose a place where it is easy to see the relationship between human life and the natural environment.

(Example) A nearby park

There are plenty of trees at the park.

• Trees such as oak and white oak trees that produce acorns.
• Rhinoceros, stag and drone beetles that feed off the sap of oak and other trees.
• Birds such as starlings coming to sleep.
• Sometimes seeing snakes such as blue-green snakes.

There is a small pond in the middle of the park.

• Fish such as carp, catfish, and stone moroko, and aquatic insects such as dragonfly larvae and water striders.
• Chinese pond turtles sunbathing at the edge of the pond.
• Tree frogs laying eggs in spring.
• Water birds such as spot-billed ducks and gray herons eating aquatic plants, fish, and insects. Spot-billed ducks with their chicks between spring and summer.

2. Make a map of the ecosystems around us

(1) Write down the location of the nature that each student surveyed above in 1. and the location of their homes and the school on the map.

(2) Next, consider and write the reasons that the surveyed nature is precious and the benefits it brings to humans.

Students can refer to the classifications of ecosystem services provided by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) and the Economics of Ecosystem and Biodiversity (TEEB). For example, "a comfortable walk in the forest" is classified as "a cultural service" in ecosystem services. It is a broadly known fact that being surrounded by trees has a good impact on us both physically and psychologically, something known as forest bathing.

< References >
Ecosystem Services - TEEB

(Example) Benefits of a nearby park

• Taking a walk on a walking path makes me feel good. I can refresh myself by taking a walk.
• Forests and ponds provide habitats for many living organisms.
• The park is cooler than other places in summer too. I feel that it makes the air cooler around my home.
• Water in the area is very tasty. I heard that groundwater is used for drinking. I also heard that the trees in the park play a role in storing and purifying rainwater.

(3) Write down the benefits of nature in the areas on the map using pictures and descriptions. Make a presentation about the benefits of nature around us using the map.

[ Advanced Issues ]

Students have considered the value of nature that is useful for human beings. If students can find significant values of nature that may not be directly useful for humans, they will be able to develop more diverse ways of thinking.

[ Important Points! ]

Students should consider even a small garden as a part of nature. Such nature around us is the nature that Professor Daily focused on.