Treading Lightly
Treading Lightly |
Keeping the big question in mind ...
How can individuals and industries tread lightly on our planet and still maintain the lifestyles we all require or enjoy?
Many practices, changes, or efforts are underway by individuals, organizations, and industries to “tread more lightly” on the Earth while still maintaining our current lifestyles. You will visit the following websites to discover examples of the actions that others are taking or recommending to tread lightly. Take notes so that you can share the answers to the questions listed for your website(s) with your teammates.
I. Treading Lightly as an Individual Enjoying the Outdoors
“We did not inherit the Earth from our parents, we are borrowing it from our children."
This Native American proverb is found at the website Tread Lightly, a project which began as a National Forest Service project but is now carried on as a private, nonprofit venture.
Task #4: On your own,search for the mission of the Tread Lightly project at:
Then read "How to Tread Lightly : A Guide to Responsible Recreation"
www.treadlightly.org/images/education/HTTTG.pdf
READING TIP: After an introduction, the Guide lists specific ways to use the outdoors responsibly while enjoying various activities. As you read, look for general “rules of the outdoor road” for responsible recreation that seem to apply regardless of the setting or activity.
Task #5: Meet as a team and draft a list of Treading Lightly rules that apply across a variety of activities.
Task #6: Divide the following searches among team members to add to your ideas about how to tread lightly while enjoying the outdoors.
a. Look at the National Park Service perspective on minimum impact camping at:
www.nps.gov/ever/visit/impact.htm
b. Read the National Caving Association's recommendations for treading lightly at: web.ukonline.co.uk/nca/canda/mimpcode.htm.
c. Read more tips on wilderness minimum impact camping at www.ehow.com/how_1787_camp-with-minimum.html.
d.Return to the Tread Lightly site to read in more detail recommendations for one or more outdoor activities.
Tips are available for each activity in the “Tips” list below. Even more detailed recommendations are available about each activity in the “Guidebooks” list below. Divide the Tips and Guidebooks topics among team members according to your individual interests. Take notes at the Tips and/or Guidebooks pages you are assigned by your team so that you can recommend changes or confirm your list of Treading Lightly rules when you meet back as a team.
(Website Tip: Some tips and guides show an “Out of Stock” message. These documents are still viewable.)
TIPS topics
Sand Duning, ATV Riding, Camping, Cross Country/Back Country Skiing, Fishing, Four Wheeling, Geocaching, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Hunting, Mountain Bike Riding, Off Highway Motorcyling, Personal Watercraft, Snowmobiling, Water Recreation
GUIDEBOOKS topics
ATV, Four Wheeling, Mountain Biking, Trail Biking, Personal Watercraft, Sand Duning, Snowmobiling
Task #7: As a team, discuss any new recommendations for responsible recreation you’ve discovered. Revise your list as necessary.
Task #8: As a team, explore the tradeoffs. If you followed these recommendations to Tread Lightly in recreation, what would you have to sacrifice? Print or ask your teacher for a copy of the Treading Lightly Trade Off Sheet. Enter a Tread Lightly practice/action or recommendation in each box. List the benefits and the sacrifices which result or are required for each entry. Use more than one sheet if necessary
II. Treading Lightly as an Individual Consumer
We live a lifestyle dependent on energy and many goods and services. Discover how many minerals people consume at:
www.nma.org/pdf/m_consumption.pdf
Then discover some strategies for becoming more responsible consumers at:
www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/
Task #9: As a team, share your discoveries. Then, consider the tradeoffs. If you followed these recommendations to Tread Lightly as a consumer, what would you have to sacrifice? Make additional entries on your team’s Tradeoff Analysis Sheet.
III. Treading Lightly in the Mineral Industry
Task #10: Read about a project that uses new technologies to process coal at:
www.nma.org/other/pdfs/clean_coal_a_old.pdf
Consider this question. How does this project have the potential to help industry Tread Lightly?
Reclaiming the land is an important concept for the Mineral Industry to Tread Lightly. It’s also a practice required by federal law. The goal of reclamation is to return the land to a condition which allows for native trees and grasses to be replanted and to thrive. According to the National Mining Association website, “Humid areas with gentle topography are the easiest to restore and revegetate, but special techniques have been developed for use in arid, mountainous and arctic regions. You will visit pages at the National Mining Association site to mine for more information.
Task #11: Divide your search among team members or visit each site individually according to the directions of your teacher. At each page you are looking for ways the Mining Industry is finding to Tread Lightly.
1) www.nma.org/policy/reclamation/index.asp
(Visit all the examples listed at this page but be sure to watch for Wyoming in “People Involved in Reclamation.")
2) www.nma.org/policy/reclamation/reclamation_info.asp
3) www.nma.org/policy/reclamation/republic.asp
4) www.nma.org/policy/reclamation/baker_mountain.asp
5) www.nma.org/policy/reclamation/peabody.asp
Task #12: As a team, once again consider the tradeoffs. By using new technologies and practicing reclamation efforts to Tread Lightly, what does the Mining Industry have to sacrifice? How is the consumer of mineral industry products affected? Make additional entries on your team’s Tradeoff Analysis Sheet.
Moving on ...
Take your Tradeoff Analysis Sheet and any other notes to Processing Information.
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