Built environments aren’t the only way that humans can put pressure on natural wildlife. Natural habitats are also negatively influenced by us building more urban environments, lighting or power generation stations, crops and pastures, roads, railways, and waterways.
Explore the Data!
In this activity, we’ll explore data from the UNBiodiversity Lab to understand human’s impact on natural environments. Use the interactive map below to explore areas of human impact around Canada.
- Cookies: Select “Accept” or “Reject” to dismiss the cookies notification.
- Zoom: Use the buttons in the bottom right to zoom in and out, or the scroll wheel on the mouse.
- Pan: Click and drag the map to pan around the map.
- Identify Environments: Find at least one example of a natural, rural, suburban, and urban environment. Take a screenshot, or write down the location you identified.
- Select a New Country! Open the tool in a new window, and select a new country to explore. Can you explain the differences between the two countries?
Understanding Types of Environments
Click on each category to understand the type of environment that it represents.
Natural Environments: These areas have minimal human pressure and represent the most preserved natural wilderness.
LET’S REFLECT…
After you’ve explored the data, reflect on the following questions:
- What was the location of each environment you identified?
- What similarities and differences did you notice about each type of environment?
- What similarities and differences did you notice between two different countries?