European nature conservation toolkit

The toolkit is ideal for project work, as it combines objectives from different subjects: biology, geography,
environmental science, social studies, political science, artistic education, languages or citizenship education.

The toolkit is built around four modules:

1. How do we relate to nature?
2. Exploring nature in Europe.
3. How do we protect nature in Europe?
4. Actively commit yourself to nature conservation.

The objectives per module:

Module 1

• making students more aware of and understanding their natural environment;
• reflect on the importance of nature and the different values and attitudes regarding it;
• understand how human activities affect nature and how these influences have changed over time.

Module 2

• understanding concepts such as species, habitats and biodiversity, and their importance;
• understanding the relationships and interactions within and between ecosystems;
• learning to recognize and record species and habitats that occur in an area, region and/or country;
• understand what the main habitat types are in Europe, and how they interact

Module 3

• learn what Natura 2000 and the Nature Guidelines are;
• understand why collecting data about nature is important;
• exploring methods to track the status of an ecosystem, habitat or species;
• understand the different points of view on a controversial conservation issue and learn how progress can be made.

Module 4

• find out how to get involved and contribute to conservation;
• learn how to raise awareness and promote conservation actions;
• gain a better understanding of how EU institutions operate and EU policies work, and learn to develop and present personal views and policy proposals.