A Greener Future: One Tree One Child

Are you interested in protecting our environment? One Tree One Child is a community organization in Kilifi and Mombasa. We focus on mangrove (1) _______ and environmental education. We believe that children are the leaders of environmental change.

Our program teaches young people how (2) _______ trees and value nature. Mangroves are very important for our coast. They protect our land and help us fight climate change. We work with schools, local families, and leaders to (3) _______ our goals. We want to (4) _______ important projects to save our planet.

Our mission is to support communities (5) _______ education and reforestation. We want to empower every child to protect the environment for future generations. Together, we can build a(n) (6) _______ world and a better life for everyone.

Do you want to support our mission? Please contact us today. You can send an email to onetreeonechildkenya@gmail.com.

Let's protect our nature together!

(Adapted from: https://onetreeonechild.org/)

What is a Food Web?

In nature, we use a food chain to show a simple list of who eats what. For example: Grass → Zebra → Lion. However, nature is usually more complex! A food web is a much (1) _______ map. It shows many different food chains (2) _______ together. Scientists look at these webs to see if our planet is healthy. If one animal or plant disappears, (3) _______ in the web might be in danger too.

Webs are Everywhere!

Every environment has its own (4) _______ web:

- On Land: Energy (5) _______ from the sun to green plants, then to herbivores and predators.

- In the Water: The web starts with tiny plants called phytoplankton.

- In the Desert: Hardy plants like cacti help insects and reptiles (6) _______ the heat.

Protect Our Web!

Every living thing is an important piece of the puzzle. From the smallest bug to the tallest tree, we all need each other. Let's learn about our environment and protect the beautiful web of life!

(Adapted from: https://www.edengreen.com/)

A floodplain is a flat area of land that lies next to a river or stream. It starts at the riverbanks and extends to the edges of the valley. (1) _______.

The floodway is the main path where the water flows. Some floodways are seasonal, (2) _______. For example, the Todd River in Australia is often dry. The flood fringe is the area from the riverbanks to the valley walls, also known as bluffs. (3) _______.

Floodplains are home to many different plants and animals, often having more biodiversity than the rivers themselves. For example, in the Congo River area, the West African lungfish can be found. (4) _______, using gills to breathe in the water and a simple lung to breathe air when the land is dry.

These areas are perfect for farming because they are very fertile. When a river floods, it leaves behind rich soil called silt. (5) _______. A well-known example is the Pampas in Argentina, often called the "Breadbasket" because it produces a large amount of grain and meat, even though the area sometimes floods.

(Adapted from: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/)

1. In every community, the word "keystone" refers to the most important part that holds everything together. In nature, a keystone species is a living thing that maintains the balance of its entire environment. If this species is removed, the ecosystem changes completely. It might even collapse or be taken over by invasive plants and animals. Without these vital organisms, nature cannot adapt easily to new changes.

2. Because nature is complex, scientists sometimes disagree on which animals deserve this title. Some experts believe the term is too simple for complicated food webs. However, calling an animal a keystone species is a helpful way to explain to the public why we must protect certain creatures. It shows that the survival of many species often depends on just one.

3. There are three main categories of keystone species. The first is predators, such as sharks. Sharks help the ocean by eating sick fish, which keeps the population healthy. In Australia, tiger sharks protect sea grass by making sure sea turtles do not eat it all in one place. By scaring the turtles to different areas, the sharks allow the grass to grow back.

4. The second category is the ecosystem engineer. These animals physically change their habitat. Beavers are the best example of this. They use old trees to build dams, which creates new wetlands. These wetlands provide a home for many different plants and birds. By changing the river, beavers help the whole forest stay healthy and diverse.

5. Finally, there are mutualists. These are species that work together for a shared benefit. Bees are very important mutualists. While they collect nectar for food, they spread pollen between flowers. This teamwork helps plants reproduce and ensures the bees have enough to eat. It is this special relationship that keeps our gardens and wild spaces growing.

(Adapted from: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/)

How Climate Change Is Shifting Earth's Ecosystems

1. In 2018, a scientific group called the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published a report about the Earth becoming warmer. They found that since the time before factories were common, the world's temperature has increased by 1°C. If this trend continues, the Earth could be 1.5°C warmer between 2030 and 2052. This small increase is devastating for the environment, especially for the Arctic and coral reefs.

2. The ocean absorbs more than 80% of the Earth's extra heat. This warm water is very bad for coral reefs because it causes them to lose their color and die. If the temperature reaches 1.5°C, about 90% of these reefs could disappear. Furthermore, the ocean is becoming more acidic, which makes it difficult for sea creatures like shellfish to grow. [I]

3. As the ocean gets warmer, the water expands and takes up more space. At the same time, ice from glaciers is melting. Together, these factors cause the sea level to rise. Since the late 1800s, the sea has risen by 20 centimeters. Scientists now see that the water is rising faster every year. This causes more floods and destroys land near the coast.

4. Climate change also affects the weather and water quality. [II] Hot air causes more water to evaporate, which leads to heavy rain and powerful storms. In lakes and rivers, warmer water holds less oxygen. This is a serious problem for fish and other animals that live underwater. [III]

5. Extreme weather is another major concern. Hurricanes are becoming stronger because the ocean surface is warmer. For instance, in 2017, powerful storms caused great damage in Florida and Puerto Rico. [IV] Today, experts use ocean temperatures to predict how dangerous these storms will be.

6. Finally, many places are suffering from a lack of water. In California, there have been several record-breaking droughts since 2012. When the weather is very dry and hot, the risk of wildfires increases. These fires are now five times more common than they were 40 years ago. Many forests cannot recover after these fires, and many animals lose their homes forever.

(Adapted from: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/)