YUNGA LEARNING AND ACTION SERIES SUPPORTED BY TS ES R E O G D F A B E G N E L L U A N H I C T E S D N AT I O N Forests Challenge Badge CBD :: FAO :: THE GREEN WAVE :: UNESCO WAGGGS :: WOSM :: WWF This booklet is intended as a guide for teachers and youth leaders. These individuals are responsible for the development of programmes and activities which are suitable for their group and provide the required supervision and safety precautions to ensure all participants are safe and sound. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. 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YOUTH AND UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL ALLIANCE (yunga) Forests Challenge Badge Developed in collaboration with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization The World Association of Girl Guides and Girls Scouts (WAGGGS) and the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) endorse this educational badge framework for use by Guides and Scouts around the world, adapting it as necessary to their local needs and requirements. FOOD AND AGRicultuRE ORganiZation OF THE UNITED Nations | 2013 TABLE OF contentS INTRODUCTION WELCOME ................................................................................... 4 BE SAFE AND SOUND! ................................................................... 8 THE CHALLENGE BADGE SERIES ................................................... 10 Creating BEHAVIOUR change ................................................... 12 TIPS ON undertaKing THE badge WITH YOUR grouP .................. 14 BADGE structure AND curriculum ......................................... 16 SAMPLE badge curricula ........................................................ 20 Level 1 (5-10 year olds) .............................................................. 20 Level 2 (11-15 year olds) ............................................................ 22 Level 3 (16+ year olds) ............................................................... 24 BACKGROUND INFORMATION Section A: FOREST LIFE .............................................................. 26 What is a forest? ........................................................................ 26 What is a tree? ........................................................................... 28 Forest layers ............................................................................. 30 Types of forests ......................................................................... 32 Celebri-trees! ............................................................................ 42 Wondrous creatures of the forest ................................................. 48 Section B: FORESTS IN USE .......................................................... 54 Forest services .......................................................................... 54 Leafy lungs: photosynthesis ...................................................... 54 Temperature control .................................................................. 56 Water management ................................................................... 56 Soil protection ........................................................................... 59 Forests and livelihoods .............................................................. 60 Rights to access ......................................................................... 66 2 YOUTH AND UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL ALLIANCE LEARNING AND ACTION SERIES Section C: FORESTS AND CULTURE ................................................ 68 Fun and philosophy in forests ..................................................... 68 Forests and recreation ................................................................ 68 Forests in art, literature and music .............................................. 70 Forest-based cultures ................................................................. 72 Section D: FORESTS AT RISK .........................................................74 Deforestation .............................................................................74 Degradation .............................................................................. 76 Erosion ..................................................................................... 77 Climate change ......................................................................... 78 Fire .......................................................................................... 79 Water worries ............................................................................ 80 Enemies alive and kicking .......................................................... 81 Section E: TAKE ACTION .............................................................. 82 Actions for governments and decision-makers ............................. 82 What YOU can do ........................................................................ 86 FORESTS BADGE CURRICULUM Section A: FOREST LIFE ............................................................... 92 Section B: FORESTS IN USE .........................................................102 Section C: FORESTS AND CULTURE ...............................................110 Section D: FORESTS AT RISK .......................................................118 Section E: TAKE ACTION .............................................................124 CHECKlist ...............................................................................131 RESOURCES AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION StaY UPdated .........................................................................134 SEND US YOUR news .................................................................134 Certificates AND badges ........................................................134 WEB SITES ................................................................................135 GLOSSARY ................................................................................138 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...............................................................148 FORESTS CHALLENGE BADGE 3 WELCOME Our planet’s forests “are the lungs that clean the air we breathe, the homes of countless species of plants and animals, the source of inspiration and livelihood for millions of people. Forests offer an amazing assortment of benefits for humans and animals. For humans, forests are a source of livelihood, food, medicinal herbs; forests give us wood that can be used for shelter, furniture and fuel; and they are places of recreation. They also play a huge role in maintaining the planet’s environmental health. 4 YOUTH AND UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL ALLIANCE LEARNING AND ACTION SERIES Forests help to prevent soil erosion, improve water quality, provide habitats for millions of animal and plant species, and offer protection against floods. In coastal areas, mangrove forests can greatly reduce damage caused by hurricanes and tsunamis. Globally, forests make a valuable contribution to climate change mitigation, in their role as carbon sinks. Unfortunately, forests are under threat in many parts of the world, and are being degraded or destroyed at alarming rates. This is due to many reasons, ranging from profit-seeking by large companies to individual actions driven by poverty. Climate change is expected to worsen these threats and to change ecosystem dynamics within forests. There is a lot you can do to help forests! Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai famously said: “when we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and the seeds of hope” “ If, in planting trees, we sow peace and hope, just imagine what we can achieve if young people from around the world take part in this one simple act! Read on to find out about activities that can help you to better understand the many roles of forests. Every step made to help forests counts!