Author Question: If resources were the basis for dividing the world, where would the national boundaries be? How ... (Read 14 times)

KimWrice · **on:** Jul 21, 2018

If resources were the basis for dividing the world, where would the national boundaries be? How would they be determined?
By ecosystems? By major continents? By agricultural productivity? By geographic obstacles, such as mountain
regions or rivers?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Place yourself on the Natural Resources Management Continuum. Try to place yourself on the continuum with special
consideration for cockroaches, oak trees, whales, or deer. Does that exercise help you see why there is so much controversy
in natural resources management decision making?

What will be an ideal response?

cclemon1 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 21, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Regarding the first part of the question, the answer is clear. The existing national boundaries would be erased
in almost all cases.
The remaining parts of the question are less simple and there are no right answers. Look for logical groupings
of soil and water resources to allow for food production and drinking water. Look for allocation of fossil fuel
resources. Consider the effect of similar land and climate. For instance, the southern parts of Texas, New
Mexico, Arizona, and California have more in common with Mexico than they do with the remainder of the
United States.

Answer to Question 2

The students' answers to this will vary. You can expect many students to place themselves somewhat toward the
preservationist end initially. On the question of cockroaches, most of them will move to the other end. On the
question of oak trees, you can force changes by assuming the oak tree is in their front yards or in a forest away from
view. The question of whales should evoke preservationist responses because of the continuing Save-the-Whales
movement. The deer question will polarize the group between hunters and antihunters.