WWF demands a stop to harvesting in the Tatras

URL: http://www.newsflashenglish.com/090507harvesting3.htm

Ideas and Articles by David Robinson

9^th May 2007

THE ARTICLE

WWF demands a stop to harvesting in the Tatras

The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) has requested the Slovak government ensure the adequate protection of the Tatras National Park (TANAP) and stop the wood harvesting that is taking place in its valleys. WWF are specialists for the protection of nature, and forest and water management in the Danube-Carpathian area. They made known its wishes at a news conference on 2^nd May in Čičmany (Zilina Region) - N.A.S.R. recently reported. “The WWF regards the wood harvesting in the Ticha and Koprova valleys to be illegal,” said Juraj Vysoky, WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme representative in Slovakia. He added, “The main reason is that during the harvesting biotopes of European and national importance are being harmed, as well as biotopes of protected species, which in addition are being disturbed.”

The Director of WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme Michael Baltzer expressed his worries over the events in these valleys, and emphasised that TANAP is well-known throughout Europe. “Harvesting in a national park isn’t a good way of management and the best bet is to let nature cope with the situation. Processing fallen trees is reducing the potential of ecosystems, and pests (insects) are a part of the natural process,” said Baltzer. Zdenka Krenova from the Administration of Sumava National Park, a protected area in the Czech Republic said, “Exercising benign neglect in the core part of a national park hasn’t been regarded as valid for long. Several parks in Poland, Germany, Austria and in the Czech Republic are trying to apply this approach.” She added, “The functioning of a national park also calls for various educational and tourist activities, and sites like the Ticha and Koprova valleys could be involved.” The Tatras were hit by a strong windstorm in late 2004 resulting in huge forest areas over a wide part of them being devastated.

START

1. WOOD HARVESTING IN THE TATRAS: What is wood harvesting? What do you know about wood harvesting in the Tatras? Have you seen the issue on TV or in person? Go round the room swapping stories. Change partners often.

2. DICTATION: The teacher will read some of the article slowly and clearly. Students will write down what they hear. The teacher will repeat the passage slowly again. Self correct your work. Compare your work with your partner(s) and try to recreate the full text. Listen again to check, fill in spaces or correct mistakes. Be honest with yourself on the number of errors. Advise the teacher of your total no of errors. Less than 5 is very good. 10 are acceptable. Any more is room for improvement! More than 20 - we need to do some work!

3. READING: Get students to read the passage aloud. Swap readers every paragraph.

4. VOCABULARY: Students look through the article. Underline/highlight any vocabulary you don’t know. Look in dictionaries. Discuss and help each other out. The teacher will go through and explain any words or phrases you are stuck with!

5. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting (circle) and which are most boring (underline).

WWF / Tatras National Park / Ticha and Koprava valleys / wood harvesting / biotopes / ecosystems / Tatras / forest areas / Poland / Danube-Carpathian area

Have a chat about the topics you liked. For more conversation, change topics and partners frequently. Put them into different categories.

6. TATRAS: Change partners! With your new partner think of four things one can do when visiting the Tatras. List them below and discuss.

1 3 2 4

With your partner discuss the following: Student A questions a) What is your favourite place to visit in the Tatras? b) How long did you spend there? c) Why did you go there? d) Are you a regular visitor to the Tatras?

Student B questions a) Who do you go to the Tatras with? b) What do you like to do in the Tatras? c) Are you a summer or winter visitor to the Tatras? d) Your question

7. WOOD HARVESTING: With your partner list 4 things to do with wood harvesting. Discuss.

1 3 2 4

With your partner discuss the following: Student A questions a) What other processes are involved when wood harvesting? b) Do you agree with the actions WWF has taken? c) Should more species be saved in the Tatras? d) What do you know about ecosystems? e) Your question? Student B questions a) What other protected areas do you know? b) Who profits from wood harvesting? c) Should more trees be grown in the Tatras? d) Should the lower area be laid to pasture? e) Your question?

8. QUICK DEBATE: Students A believe wood harvesting should be done in the Tatras as it helps the economy. Students B believe the WWF is right to oppose the wood harvesting. Debate this with your partners. Change partners often.

9. WOOD HARVESTING: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with wood harvesting. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

10. THREE SENTENCES: Choose six/nine of these words. Write three sentences using two/three words in each. Try to associate them with wood harvesting. Discuss with your partner. Spend five minutes on this exercise.

11. SENTENCE STARTERS: With your partner(s), finish these sentence starters. Change partner(s) and talk about the sentences you made.

a) WWF _________________________________________________________

b) Insects _______________________________________________________

c) Several parks __________________________________________________

d) Wood harvesting ________________________________________________

e) Ecosystems ____________________________________________________

f) Huge forest ___________________________________________________

g) Fallen trees ____________________________________________________

h) The Tatras National park _________________________________________

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: After reading the article guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	The WWF wants to increase wood harvesting	T / F
b.	The WWF want adequate protection of the Tatra National Park	T / F
c.	The WWF held a news conference on 3^rd May	T / F
d.	The WWF regards the wood harvesting as legal	T / F
e.	Biotopes of European & national importance are being harmed	T / F
f.	Harvesting isn’t a good way to manage the parks	T / F
g.	Parks in Poland Germany & Hungary are trying the WWF approach	T / F
h.	The Tatras were hit by a sandstorm in late 2004	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

a.	Ensure	Region
b.	Forest	Violent
c.	Wood harvesting	Manage
d.	Pests	Wood
e.	Strong	Vast
f.	Worries	Insects
g.	Cope	Leave
h.	Neglect	Logging
i.	Huge	Concerns
j.	Areas	Attain

3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):

a.	The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF)	to let nature cope with the situation
b.	…the adequate protection of	is that during the harvesting
c.	WWF	isn’t a good way of management
d.	The WWF	the Tatras National Park
e.	The main reason	were hit by a strong windstorm
f.	Harvesting in a national park	regards the wood harvesting…
g.	The best bet is	in the core part of a national park
h.	Processing fallen trees	are specialists for the protection of nature
i.	Exercising benign neglect	is reducing the potential of ecosystems
j.	The Tatras	has requested the Slovak government…

GAP FILL: READING

Put the words into the gaps in the text.

WWF demands a stop to harvesting in the Tatras The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) has requested the Slovak government ensure the ________ protection of the ______ National Park (TANAP) and stop the wood harvesting that is taking place in its valleys. WWF are specialists for the protection of nature, and ______ and water management in the Danube-Carpathian area. They made known its wishes at a news conference on 2^nd May in Čičmany (Zilina Region) - N.A.S.R. recently reported. “The WWF regards the wood __________ in the Ticha and Koprova valleys to be _______,” said Juraj Vysoky, WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme ______________ in Slovakia. He added, “The main reason is that during the harvesting ________ of European and national importance are being harmed, as well as biotopes of protected ______, which in addition are being disturbed.”

species harvesting forest biotopes representative Tatras illegal adequate

The Director of WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme Michael Baltzer expressed his worries over the events in these _______, and emphasised that TANAP is well-known throughout Europe. “Harvesting in a national park isn’t a good way of management and the best bet is to let ______ cope with the situation. Processing fallen trees is reducing the potential of ________, and _____ (_______) are a part of the _______ process,” said Baltzer. Zdenka Krenova from the Administration of Sumava National Park, a protected area in the Czech Republic said, “Exercising benign neglect in the core part of a national park hasn’t been regarded as valid for long. Several parks in Poland, Germany, Austria and in the Czech Republic are trying to apply this approach.” She added, “The functioning of a national ____ also calls for various educational and tourist activities, and sites like the Ticha and Koprova valleys could be involved.” The Tatras were hit by a strong _________ in late 2004 resulting in huge forest areas over a wide part of them being devastated.

Pests valleys nature ecosystems park windstorm natural insects

GAP FILL: LISTENING:

Listen and fill in the spaces.

WWF demands a stop to harvesting in the Tatras

The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) ________________________ government ensure the adequate protection of the Tatras National Park (TANAP) and stop the wood harvesting ____________________ in its valleys. WWF are specialists for the protection of nature, and forest and water management in the Danube-Carpathian area. They made known ___________________ conference on 2^nd May in Čičmany (Zilina Region) - N.A.S.R. recently reported. “The WWF regards the wood harvesting in the Ticha and Koprova valleys to be illegal,” said Juraj Vysoky, WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme representative in Slovakia. He added, “The main reason __________________ harvesting biotopes of European and national importance are being harmed, as well as biotopes of protected species, which in addition ___________________.”

The Director of WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme Michael Baltzer expressed ____________________ events in these valleys, and emphasised that TANAP is well-known throughout Europe. “Harvesting in a national park ___________________ management and the best bet is to let nature cope with the situation. Processing fallen trees is reducing the potential of ecosystems, and pests (insects) _________________ natural process,” said Baltzer. Zdenka Krenova from the Administration of Sumava National Park, a protected area in the Czech Republic said, “_________________ neglect in the core part of a national park hasn’t been regarded as valid for long. Several parks in Poland, Germany, Austria and in the Czech Republic ____________________ this approach.” She added, “The functioning of a national park also calls for various educational and tourist activities, and sites like the Ticha and Koprova valleys could be involved.” The Tatras were _______________ windstorm in late 2004 resulting in huge forest areas over ___________________ being devastated.

DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a) Did the headline make you want to read the article?

b) Did anything in the article surprise you?

c) Have you ever been to the Tatras?

d) Do you think the WWF is right to demand the stopping of wood harvesting?

e) Would you join the WWF?

f) Do you support their efforts in protecting the Tatras?

g) What other national parks have you visited?

h) Have you ever visited the Danube–Carpathian area?

i) Do you think national parks are a good idea?

j) Should fallen trees be allowed to just sit there?

$---------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a) Did you like reading this article?

b) What do you think about what you read?

c) Have you ever been to the Tatras National Park?

d) Are you in favour of exercising benign neglect in core parts of national parks?

e) Should we worry more about our ecosystems?

f) Should nature be left to sort the situation in the Tatras?

g) Should the Slovak government do more to stop the wood harvesting or not?

h) Should there be more tourist activities in the Tatras National Park?

i) Did you like this discussion?

AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.

1. What was the most interesting thing you heard?
2. Was there a question you didn’t like?
3. Was there something you totally disagreed with?
4. What did you like talking about?
5. Which was the most difficult question?

SPEAKING

PRESS: ROLE PLAY: TATRAS:

With your partner or in groups of three / four discuss the following:

	Findings
More tourist activities in the Tatras
Replanting of the forests in the Tatras
Promotion overseas of the Tatras
New expanded ski facilities in the Tatras
Infrastructure (roads/railways) to the Tatras
More houses/flats/hotels built in the Tatras
Your theme ( to do with the Tatras)

The teacher will select some students to discuss their situations in front of the class.

LANGUAGE: CORRECT WORD: Choose the correct words from a–d below and write them in the article.

The Worldwide (1) ____ for Nature (WWF) has requested the (2) ____ government ensure the adequate protection of the Tatras National Park (TANAP) and stop the wood harvesting that is taking place in its (3) ____. (4) ____ are (5) ____ for the protection of nature, and forest and water management in the Danube-Carpathian area. They made known its wishes at a news conference on 2^nd May in Čičmany (Zilina Region) - N.A.S.R. recently (6) ____. “The WWF regards the wood harvesting in the Ticha and Koprova valleys to be illegal,” said Juraj Vysoky, WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme representative in Slovakia. He added, “The main reason is that during the harvesting biotopes of European and national importance are being harmed, as well as biotopes of protected species, which in addition are being disturbed.”

The Director of WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme Michael Baltzer expressed his worries over the events in these valleys, and (7) ____ that TANAP is well-known throughout (8) ____. “Harvesting in a (9) ____ park isn’t a good way of management and the best bet is to let nature (10) ____ with the situation. Processing fallen trees is reducing the potential of ecosystems, and pests (insects) are a part of the natural process,” said Baltzer. Zdenka Krenova from the Administration of Sumava National Park, a protected area in the Czech Republic said, “Exercising benign neglect in the (11) ____ part of a national park hasn’t been regarded as valid for long. Several parks in Poland, Germany, Austria and in the Czech Republic are trying to apply this approach.” She added, “The functioning of a national park also calls for various educational and tourist activities, and sites like the Ticha and Koprova valleys could be involved.” The Tatras were hit by a strong windstorm in (12) ____ 2004 resulting in huge forest areas over a wide part of them being devastated.

1.	(a)	Account	(b)	Fund	(c)	Club	(d)	organisation
2.	(a)	Czech	(b)	British	(c)	Hungarian	(d)	Slovak
3.	(a)	hills	(b)	mountains	(c)	valleys	(d)	plains
4.	(a)	UN	(b)	WHO	(c)	WWW	(d)	WWF
5.	(a)	specialists	(b)	special	(c)	specialising	(d)	specialised
6.	(a)	said	(b)	reported	(c)	report	(d)	reporting
7.	(a)	emphasis	(b)	emphasising	(c)	emphasised	(d)	emphasise
8.	(a)	Carpathians	(b)	continent	(c)	the world	(d)	Europe
9.	(a)	local	(b)	national	(c)	regional	(d)	international
10.	(a)	cope	(b)	dope	(c)	mope	(d)	soap
11.	(a)