Underground water
A large part of the available freshwater in the world is stored in underground aquifers, which provide 50% of all drinking water, 40% of industrial water, and 20% of water for irrigation.
Module 7: Water and Biome
Ecosystems and local watersheds
BACKGROUND
Biomes are regions defined by their climate type, plants, and animals. Forest, tundra, aquatic, grassland, and desert are some examples of biomes around the world. Scientists classify biomes in different ways, but the most important way is by a region’s distinguishing features – its climate, flora, and fauna. As with all of the Earth’s beings, the biomes depend on water and allow only the particular types of life that are adapted to survive within them.
“Protect the Earth for children. We must safeguard our natural environment, with its diversity of life, its beauty and its resources, all of which enhance the quality of life, for present and future generations. We will give every assistance to protect children and minimize the impact of natural disasters and environmental degradation on them.” – United Nations, A World Fit for Children
Thematic concepts
Ecosystems
An ecosystem approach integrates the management of water, the associated land, and living resources in a way that maintains ecosystem health and productivity, in balance with sustainable water use by humans.
Watershed
Watersheds supply drinking water, provide recreation, and sustain life. A watershed approach involving all stakeholders is essential to address today’s water resource challenges.
Activities
7.1
THE SOIL FILTER
Time: 30 minutesGoal for Learning: Gain an understanding of how water sinks through the various layers of soil and is filtered and cleaned in the process.
7.2
HOW WATER IS STORED
Time: 20 minutesGoal for Learning: Gain a clear understanding how groundwater gets polluted.
7.3
EXPLORING YOUR RIVER
Time: 90 minutesGoal for Learning: Unterstand the interrelatedness of the life-support system of rivers to humans and other species.
7.4
ECOSYSTEMS
Time: 90 minutesGoal for Learning: Gain the ability to express the characteristics of ecosystems as interdependent systems of life.