- •Integrated Programme of Development
- •Integrated Programme of Development 1
- •Guidance in using this document
- •1.1 Introduction
- •1.2 The Research Report
- •1.3 Marking criteria
- •1.4 Using Exemplar Research Reports
- •1.4.1 Nature and Purpose
- •1.4.2 Teaching and Learning Strategies
- •2 Exemplar Research Reports
- •2.1 Report 1 (indicative of Grade a) An Investigation into Public Opinion in Kazakhstan on Changing Lifestyles in Response to Declining Biodiversity
- •Introduction
- •Context
- •Results
- •Conclusions
- •Evaluation
- •Further Research
- •10.1 Appendix 1 – Example of the Questionnaire
- •Introduction
- •If you are willing to take part in a short interview about declining biodiversity please tick the box and give your name. Thank you. [ ]
- •10.2 Appendix 2 – Unstructured Interview Checklist
- •Is enough being done generally to improve biodiversity? By individuals, businesses and local organisations, governments and internationally?
- •10.3 Results from the Questionnaire
- •10.4 Results from the Unstructured Interviews
- •2.2 Report 1 – Commentary and suggestions for improvement
- •2.3 Report 2 (indicative of Grade c) Leaving for the City An Investigation into the Reasons for Migration to Urban Areas
- •Introduction
- •Context
- •Results
- •Conclusions
- •Evaluation
- •Further Research
- •Footnotes
- •Bibliography
- •2.4 Report 2 – Commentary and suggestions for improvement
- •2.5 Report 3 (indicative of Grade e) Biodiversity in Kazakhstan
- •Introduction
- •Context
- •Results
- •Conclusions
- •Evaluation
- •Further Research
- •Bibliography
- •10. Appendices
- •10.1 Appendix 1 – Example of the Questionnaire
- •Introduction
- •2.6 Report 3 – Commentary and suggestions for improvement
Further Research
The outcomes of the project suggest a number of further areas of research.
Firstly, more research could be done on the attitudes of older people. Although young people will become the main influences upon society in the future, many countries have an aging population whose views need to be heard. Understanding their perspectives and encouraging them to take action is an important area of research if declining biodiversity is to be reversed. Interviews and group discussions with elderly people are possible methods, alongside discussions with organisations promoting the interests of this age group.
If the main barriers to individual action relate to cost and accessibility to environmentally friendly goods and services, research should be undertaken on how to reduce costs and improve accessibility. This could be focued on local government and businesses which provide these services.
The difference between males and females in willingness to take action is also interesting. Further research into the reasons for these differences could provide insight in how to encourage men to do more and enable them to ‘catch up’ with women!
The research has changed my own perspective. At first I believed that many people didn’t care and were not doing enough to improve biodiversity. However the research has shown that many people, particularly young people, do care and are willing to take action. I now believe that barriers to changing lifestyles can be overcome – giving advice and guidance to people through education and the media can make a difference to people’s attitudes. Encouraging businesses and local government to provide accessible alternatives for goods and services that are environmentally friendly is a way forward. If more people buy these goods and services the price will come down and more people will follow. A virtuous circle to support the environment is possible!
Notes
Scientists have been warning of the dangers of environmental change and issues like pollution since the early twentieth century but it was in the 1960’s that the environmental movement really began, with the publication of books like Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (1962) and The Population Bomb by Robert Ehrlich (1968).
In schools throughout the world subjects like Biology and Global Perspectives address these issues and encourage young people to think about how to respond.
Examples of recent Kazakhstan government projects to improve biodiversity include introducing sustainable transport, energy-efficient lighting, steppe conservation, new monitoring systems and many others as part of the country’s contribution to the UN decade of action on biodiversity. See the National Biodiversity Planning to Support the implementation of the CBD 2011-2020 Strategic Plan in Republic of Kazakhstan published by the UNDP.
Bibliography
Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan 2013, Our Work – Projects, Astana, Kazakhstan.
Cameron, J. 2007 Avatar, Twentieth Century Fox, Los Angeles, USA.
Carson, R. 1962 The Silent Spring, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, USA.
Ehrlich, P. 1968 The Population Bomb, Ballantine Books, New York, USA.
Grynspan, R. 2012 UNDP Unveils Ambitious Global Strategy to Protect Biodiversity, UNDP, UN News Centre, 18/10/2012
Guggenheim, D. 2006 An Inconvenient Truth, Lawrence Bender Productions, USA.
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, 2013, Red List, Cambridge, UK.
New Internationalist, 2013 Website Articles, Oxford, UK.
Organic World, 2012 Yearbook, Frick, Switzerland.
Principles for Responsible Management Education, 2012 The Guide To Challenging the True/False/Good Reasons for Not Taking Action, New York, USA.
United Nations 2010 Governments Must Act Swiftly To Salvage Biodiversity, UNDP, UN News Centre, 10/5/2010
United Nations 2013 National Biodiversity Planning to Support the implementation of the CBD 2011-2020 Strategic Plan in Republic of Kazakhstan, UNDP.
United Nations 2013 United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, New York, USA.
World Bank 2013 in Kazakhstan: Eliminating Mercury and Controlling Floods - Nura River Clean-Up Project, in Projects and Operations, The World Bank, Washington, USA.
World Wildlife Fund 2013 Biodiversity – How Much Is Being Lost, WWF Website, Gland, Switzerland.
World Wildlife Fund 2013 Environment – The Threats, WWF Website, Gland, Switzerland.
Appendices