Learn How Roads Can Affect Biodiversity
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Provided by: Mongabay Kids|Published on: October 31, 2025
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- In this resource from Mongabay Kids, students will watch a video about the impact of roads on forests and animal habitats, then answer discussion questions about the content.
- Students will understand how roads can lead to fragmented habitats, an increase in invasive species and wildfires, and other adverse impacts.
Subjects: Science, Biology
Authors: Mongabay Kids
Region: Africa, Asia, Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The discussion questions allow for a deeper understanding of the video's topics.
- This video does an excellent job of covering a lot of information in a condensed format.
Prerequisites
- It may benefit students to have a general idea of how habitat loss can impact species.
Differentiation & Implementation
- To make connections to climate change, teachers can highlight the portion of the video about forest fires. Teachers can then explain how climate change can also work to increase the frequency and severity of forest fires.
- Connections to climate change can also be made by emphasizing the importance of trees and forests in carbon sequestration. This lesson plan may help to communicate the importance of trees and forests.
- Teachers can use this lesson for designing a wildlife corridor as a hands-on, solutions-based extension activity.
- Teachers may want to give students a printout of the discussion questions or have them write the questions down in their notebooks to jot down ideas as they watch the video.
- This concept can be connected to the Sustainable Development Goals, primarily SDG 15, Life on Land.
This resource discusses the harm and benefits of building roads through forested or rural areas. The video emphasizes the environmental impacts of road construction on natural environments, animals, and biodiversity. However, the video encourages discussion about how society can continue building roads and expanding while making minimal impacts on the environment. An example of this, not mentioned in the video, is the construction of animal crossings over highways that allow animals to safely roam and travel. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
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Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
Mongabay Kids
Mongabay Kids is the dedicated youth education initiative at Mongabay, an award-winning nonprofit environmental and conservation news organization. We provide free, age-appropriate news, features, activities, and multimedia resources that inspire curiosity, ecological understanding, and action. Designed for children ages 8-14, families, and educators, Mongabay Kids empowers the next generation to explore, celebrate, and protect the natural world.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
