Trees and Floods

Deforestation is a worldwide problem. The causes of deforestation are varied: agricultural expansion, commercial logging for sale as timber or pulp, urban development, forest fires, climate change, plagues, among others.

Students will understand that deforestation can have a major impact on our lives by causing floods and landslides.

This project is aimed to be cross-curricular, linking in with

• geography (recognising the various regions of the planet and their characteristics),
• science (germination, types of soils)
• and social studies (understanding the impacts of deforestation).

Soil is a mixture of mineral components such as small particles of rocks, and organic components such as plant residues and microorganisms, water and air. The soil is composed of different layers, with the surface layer being fertile and composed of mineral components and decomposing plants. In this layer we find the roots of plants that hold the soil cohesive and in place.

In the experiment we can see that the water flows through faster in the soil without plants and slower in the soil with plants. From the results obtained, we can conclude that plants have a crucial role in the prevention of floods and landslides.

Plant roots can absorb water from the soil, thereby decreasing the amount of surface water running off. The roots reduce the risk of flooding by allowing the gradual absorption of rainwater.

The roots of the plants penetrate the soil and have keep it cohesive and stable, thus reducing erosion caused by water. Plant roots help decrease the risk of landslides by preventing soil from being washed away during heavy rains and preventing roads and other areas from being flooded.

This experiment shows that vegetation is a natural barrier that protects the soil surface against erosion caused by the direct impact of rain.

• Instead of pouring the water into both bottles at the same time, the bottles can be watered one after the other. The pupils can time how long the water flows through each bottle. If you use the video, you can watch the part twice and have the students time it.
• Students can draw the various stages of a plant's germination as a comic book or a flipbook.
• To make it easier to understand the function of the roots, use a sponge and explain that what the roots do to the soil is like what a sponge does to water.
• Students can present their conclusions in several ways:

1. In the form of a scientific report.
2. An oral presentation using technology (such as a presentation, for example, in PowerPoint, Canva or Prezi with photos of the various stages of the activity).

• They can carry out research where deforestation has had the most impact, which regions have been most affected and recognise the region on the map (use e.g. google maps).
• They can research the causes of deforestation and learn about soy cultivation and the destruction of the rainforest.
• They can research news of major floods and landslides and make an analysis of whether these have been more frequent in recent years.

By exploring this experimental activity on the importance of plants in the soil to prevent floods and landslides, children not only discover the impacts of deforestation, but can also be inspired to consider future careers in environmental protection. This could be a good opportunity to spark interest in professions that seek to understand and find solutions to climate change, such as soil scientist and environmental scientist.

Soil scientist

A soil scientist is a person who studies soil.

Soil scientist career video
Soil scientist video

What is a soil scientist?
Soil scientists study the soil, which is the dirt and ground beneath our feet. They help us understand how soil works, what it is made of, and how it affects plants, animals, and people.

What does a day in the life of a soil scientist look like?
Soil scientists might do different things every day. They could visit different places, like farms or forests, to look at the soil there. They use special tools to dig up soil samples and bring them back to their lab. In the lab, they examine the soil closely to see what's in it, like tiny bugs or minerals. They also test things like how much water the soil can hold or how healthy it is for plants to grow in.

What responsibilities do they have?
They have the responsibility to collect and analyse soil samples and help solve, for example, problems related to the impact of acid rain and soil erosion due to deforestation.

Environmental scientist

An environmental scientist works as a researcher to understand climate change patterns and sea level impacts.

Environmental scientists and specialists video
Environmental scientist video

What is an environmental scientist?
Environmental scientists are nature detectives! They study the Earth and all living things on it to understand how they work together. Their job is to protect the environment and make sure it stays healthy for plants, animals, and people.

What does a day in the life of an environmental scientist look like?
In their day-to-day work, environmental scientists take for example samples of soil, water and air in different places, such as forests, beaches, rivers, seas or cities. They then take these samples to the laboratory to analyse them with various instruments, such as microscopes. Once the analyses have been carried out, it's time to sit down at a desk and analyse the results, writing reports to share their findings with other scientists and institutions that benefit from this knowledge.

What responsibilities do they have?
Environmental scientists have high responsibilities. Their scientific results are fundamental to find solutions to climate change. It is important that their findings are communicated to policy makers and the general public so that they can protect the environment and the climate. They are trying to ensure that we can all live on a healthy planet.