Habitat Restoration Lesson Plan

Coastal resources are under constant threat from natural processes and human activities. News media regularly feature stories of damage to coral reefs, estuaries, fisheries and other resources caused by storms, ship groundings, oil spills, chemical releases, and many other events. Modern coastal resource management includes using science and technology to protect and restore coastal resources affected by such events. These efforts can include removing pollutants and invasive species, repairing damaged habitats, restoring natural ecosystem processes such as water flow, and re-introducing native organisms.

In this lesson plan, students will be able to give at least three examples of natural events and human activities that injure coastal resources, describe at least three cases in which injured coastal resources have been restored by human activity and describe at least three ways that people have been able to contribute to coastal resource restoration.