case studies

🌱 Events that shaped the environmental movement (Topic 1.1)

1. Silent Spring (1962) – Rachel Carson’s book exposed dangers of DDT → triggered pesticide bans + rise of eco-awareness.

2. Chernobyl Disaster (1986) – Nuclear explosion in Ukraine → mass anti-nuclear sentiment + greater global safety regulation.

3. Greta Thunberg’s climate strikes (2018–present) – Started as solo school strike → became global “Fridays for Future” movement.
   🔑 Mobilised youth + pushed climate change to the top of political agendas.

🧪 DDT – Silent Spring (Rachel Carson):
Used to kill mosquitoes → built up in food chains → bird populations dropped (e.g., bald eagle) → eventually banned in the US.

🌎 Biomes & Biodiversity:

• Tropical rainforest (Amazon) – high biodiversity, warm/wet, near equator.

• Desert (Sahara) – low biodiversity, dry, hot days, cold nights.

• Tundra (Arctic) – low biodiversity, permafrost, short growing season.

🐾 Topic 3 – Biodiversity & Conservation

🔴 Threatened species – Angelshark (Europe):
Critically endangered due to bottom trawling & habitat loss.
Protected areas & fishing bans in places like Canary Islands have helped.

🟡 Threatened species – Koala (Australia):
Threatened by deforestation, urbanisation, disease (chlamydia).
Conservation = tree planting, protected reserves, health programs.

✅ Recovered species – Bald Eagle (USA):
Almost extinct due to DDT → banning of DDT + legal protection → populations recovered.
Symbol of successful conservation.

❌ Extinct species – Dodo (Mauritius):
Flightless bird hunted by settlers + invasive animals → extinct in the 1600s.
Shows how fast humans can wipe out a species.

💧 Topic 4 – Water & Aquatic Systems

🚰 Water conflict – River Nile (Egypt vs Ethiopia):
Ethiopia building the Grand Renaissance Dam → Egypt fears reduced water flow.
Conflict over shared water resource → example of unsustainable management & lack of cooperation.