Download science part 1 and 2 natural resources

Science Component – Part I
County Name _____________
Group members ________________________
Vermont’s 14 counties have a wide variety of natural resources which play a major role in the
economy. These resources include rocks and minerals (marble, slate, granite), forests for
logging and tourism (leaf peepers pay into the local economy), mountains for winter sports
(snowboarding and skiing), wildlife for hunting and fishing, and state and national parks for a
variety of recreational activities.
Your task is to compile information on these resources so that they can be part of a
presentation to bring people into you county. Start planning to get samples, pictures and
other visuals to spruce up your presentation.
Map work
For each county locate any of the resources available in your county:
Identify the natural resources along with the town names in which the resources can be
found. Record below with specific information for each resource listed above as well as other
natural resources you can identify.
a. Rock and mineral quarries (marble, slate, granite)
b. Forests for logging and tourism (leaf peepers pay into the local economy)
c. Ski areas for winter sports (snowboarding and skiing)
d. Wildlife for hunting and fishing (forests, lakes and rivers)
e. State and National parks
Science component part 2 - Vermont Wildlife
Read Vermont’s Wildlife Action Plan (provided). Focus on the specific categories listed below.
Primary Challenges to Vermont's Wildlife
Vermont's wildlife action plan identifies 22 major categories of problems adversely affecting
species or their habitats. The most common, widespread and serious problems include:
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loss of habitat
the impacts of roads
pollution and sedimentation
invasive species
climate change
For each of the categories above try to determine how your county is being impacted.
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loss of habitat
o How can you determine and show how much development has occurred over
the last 40 or 50 years?
o What animal species have been most affected?
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the impacts of roads
o Identify major roads that run through your county (by name or number). What
kind of roads are they? (2 lane, 4 lane, highway)
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pollution and sedimentation
o What rivers and streams in your county run along-side or intersect with roads?
o What rivers and streams run through more business and commercial areas
(stores, factories, auto shops, etc.)?
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invasive species
o What are the known invasive, or non-native, species of plants and animals that
can be found in your county?
o What are some environmental problems caused by these invasive species?
o What is being done to eliminate these species?
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climate change
o How is climate change affecting the wildlife and natural resources of your
county?
Helpful Links
Link to Species of greatest conservation need
http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/SWG_list.cfm
Cool interactive mapping site
http://maps.vermont.gov/imf/imf.jsp?site=VCGI_basemap