Letter to Educators

June 1999

Dear Educator:

Tropical deforestation is a serious problem, with tens of millions of acres lost to agricultural and other human activity each year. The problem is as complex as it is serious, and is in many ways a reflection of the most daunting social, economic, and ecological challenges facing humankind today.

Many people, including students everywhere, are extremely concerned about tropical deforestation. Yet, few are even aware of the myriad of underlying causes, much less the critically important interrelationships, involved. It is abundantly clear that a difficult-to-solve problem cannot be solved if the causes are unknown or misunderstood by those seeking to solve it.

This educational package is designed to help teachers and their students delve into the tropical deforestation problem. Although the focus of these materials is specifically on deforestation in the tropics, a number of other major current issues are addressed either directly or indirectly.

Materials are designed with the intent of exposing students to the reality of large, multifaceted problems, and to the process of critical thinking necessary to move toward solutions to such problems. We believe that development of critical thinking skills is vital in those who will become leaders in an increasingly complex world.

This subject can be effectively dealt with within a single course. Ideally, however, this subject will be taught across a number of classes or subject areas, including such areas as science, social studies, geography, writing, and mathematics. We realize that there are almost as many possibilities for presenting this material as there are dedicated teachers. We have provided some suggestions, as well as supporting materials, that we are confident will work well with your students. I hope that you will find these materials useful in your classrooms and field studies. Good ideas for how to improve this product are always welcomed; please note the feedback form included in the teacher's guide.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jim L. Bowyer
College of Natural Resources
University of Minnesota