IB ESS HL 1.1.7 Environmental value systems and environmental policy Question Bank

Discuss the implications of environmental value systems for the protection of tropical biomes.

The following guide for using the markbands suggests certain features that may be offered in responses. The five headings coincide with the criteria given in each of the markbands (although "ESS terminology" has been conflated with "Understanding concepts"). This guide simply provides some possible inclusions and should not be seen as requisite or comprehensive. It outlines the kind of elements to look for when deciding on the appropriate markband and the specific mark within that band.

Answers may include:
- understanding concepts and terminology of environmental value systems, tropical biomes, biodiversity, conservation, habitat v species approach, reserves, ecotourism, flagship species, sustainable development/exploitation, goods/services.
- breadth in addressing and linking environmental value systems with each other and ecocentric values with biorights, wilderness reserves, restrained resource use, etc and anthropocentric values with laws/regulations/quotas, public consultation/agreements, sustainable exploitation, ecotourism etc and technocentric values with economic development, habitat restoration, economic value of natural goods and services, gene banks etc
- examples of tropical biomes e.g. tropical forests, grasslands, savannas, lakes \& rivers, coral reefs etc and environmental value systems eg ecocentrism, anthropocentrism, technocentrism, etc and habitat/species protection strategies eg reserves, managed sustainable harvesting, ecotourism, fishing quotas, etc and value systems in specific tropical societies eg rights of nature enshrined in constitutions of Ecuador/Bolivia, human rights to a healthy environment in laws of Costa Rica/Brazil, etc
- balanced analysis of the ways in which different value systems are likely to impact/influence the protection of tropical biomes, acknowledging relevant counter-arguments/alternative viewpoints.
- a conclusion that is consistent with, and supported by, analysis and examples given eg "Because ecocentric values embrace the biorights of all living species and habitats their implications are bound to be the most fundamentally protective, however, to be practical in current society, more is likely to be achieved in protecting tropical biomes through some compromise with other value systems." NB This is only an example of a possible conclusion. Candidates' conclusions do not have to agree.

Please see markbands on page 20.