Endangered Species Day
Highlighting the Mission of the
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
The forecast was calling for a chance of rain that day
in Panama City, Florida. But biologists with the Panama
City Field Office breathed a sigh of relief when clear
skies emerged long enough for them to take the students
on an environmental journey. The students were seventh
and eighth graders from the Mowat Middle School gifted
program. They were helping the field office celebrate
endangered species by participating in a true-to-life
project.
With any great city comes progress, and great progress
also includes protecting the environment. That’s
why USFWS biologists always strive to strike a good balance
between the two. It’s a lesson these gifted students
would learn first-hand.
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“In
this scenario, the students were working for an imaginary
city called, ‘The City of Big Dreams,’”
explained botanist Vivian Negron-Ortiz. “The City
wanted to build an outdoor amphitheater and the students
had to make sure endangered species were being protected.” |
The participants had to look at three possible building sites,
ones containing species protected under the Endangered Species
Act: the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), red-cockaded
woodpecker (Picoides borealis), and Godfrey’s butterwort
(Pinguicula ionantha). The students had to analyze each site
and determine where the amphitheater should be built with
minimal impacts to the species and their habitat. But they
couldn’t do it with the naked eye. They employed the
help of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning
Systems (GPS) technologies.
“Spatial technologies are showing up in more
and more areas of our life. We see them in navigation
units in our cars, on the news, and in driving directions
on the computer,” explained ecologist and GIS
Specialist Paul Lang. “Students today have learned
to rely on and expect technology to help them make
important decisions. But we have to remember we are
the decision makers and must be responsible for our
decisions,” said Lang.
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With map in hand, the students took a close look at each proposed
site. As they treaded through the grass, the kids examined
each pond, burrow and wetland. They had to decide which plot
would support an amphitheater….one that could co-exist
with endangered species and their habitats.
“Listening to the observation and ideas posed by
the students as they worked their way through the park was
not only refreshing, but reassuring that they understood
we all live here and we must achieve a balance with nature,”
said biologist Lorna Patrick.
After collecting data in the muggy field, biologists and
students wiped the sweat off their brows, and came indoors
for the second part of their project. Now, it was time to
learn another form of technology…GIS. With the assistance
of Lang, the students logged on to their computers, downloaded
the data they just collected with the GPS units and started
to look at each alternative within the GIS.
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“GIS is a tremendous tool that allows us to look
at the relationship between features. Through this activity,
the students gained insight into the fact that by leveraging
the power of these technologies, we can make more informed
decisions,” explained Lang.
After a long day in the field and in the office,
the students packed it up. They had a few days to
digest what they had learned. Could the “City
of Big Dreams” spread its wings without harming
the environment?
It’s a question the kids would research…..and
answer. A few days later, the students presented their
findings, and came up with real-life solutions. Each
solution was different, with students from the audience
suggesting other alternatives. Through this project,
they learned that protecting endangered species was
more than just a catchy slogan. It’s a never-ending
journey with more than one answer; a journey that
takes a lot of hard work and perseverance.
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“I learned that to accomplish conservation,
one must apply multiple fields of science and observation
with some logical history,” said Mowat student
Alan Gorchov. “Achieving it takes thoughtful
balance.”
Smart conservation is also the mission of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, passing the torch to young
stewards of the environment.
“Children are our future! If children start
learning at an early age about the importance of protecting
endangered species and last remaining open spaces,
they’ll be better able to become good stewards
of the environment on a daily basis,” said Negron-Ortiz.
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Endangered Species Day Team photo by USFWS