Exploring Habitats of the Willamette Valley, Oregon: The Ecology Field Card Project October 2007

摘要

In the past century the United States of America has been transformed from a rural agrarian society to one where more than 80% of citizens live in urban areas. As urbanization accelerates, natural resource educators increasingly look for opportunitiesto easily introduce city dwellers to natural ecosystems. A less informed populace is greatly disadvantaged in making informed decisions about natural resource issues such as climate change, air pollution and water conservation that affect us all. In order to engage this audience, many local and national agencies, organizations and even businesses are making efforts to get youth and adults outside to educate them about the many values, uses and contributions of their local forests and woodlands. In order to assist educators with making the connection to local ecosystems, the OSU Extension Service, Benton County has developed several sets of Ecology Field Cards. These colorful, scientifically accurate, graphically rich, locally relevant educational materials are bringing these habitats alive for many students and adults in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. In addition to the cards, an accompanying educator's guide gives teachers, 4-H leaders, Master Woodland Managers, nature center instructors and othersa variety of lessons that teach youth about the relationships, systems and cycles and the rich biodiversity found in these ecosystems. Not only are these students learning about the organisms that share their world, but also how humans currently and historically have used select species found in these habitat types.