10 Definition Essay Topics on the Climate Change Based on the Biocultural Approach

Topics and ideas
Posted on December 23, 2015

A definition essay is a creative piece of writing, which asks each student to come up with a single word and define it through the lens of the content in whatever piece of writing was assigned. In this case, with a focus on biocultural approaches, a student would need to pick a single word that might relate directly or tangentially to the topic and from there, define it based on content derived from the book. This requires students to look at a single topic within a larger topic, and from there find a single word that can be defined based on the context of the piece. That being said, finding facts to support your definition can be challenging, and above all else you want to find facts which help you best to make the definition you have selected a viable one.

Below you will find a list of facts that can be used to support your definition essay, assuming the word which you are defining is one which can use the information provided.

Review these with care and with your specific definition in mind:

  1. Philosophical viewpoints toward humanity and nature have historically viewed human impact as detrimental to the world of nature and something which has wrought dysfunction on the otherwise pristine and virgin natural environment which existed without human interference. This idea has made it challenging to define the relationship between nature and humans, as the only viable solutions presented were those which looked toward a non-human solution, a way of improving nature without humans.
  2. Historically studies have explored linguistic diversity as a single element as well as biological diversity as a single element. However, in each case the focus is on the single element and/or its impact on other cultural or natural elements, and not on one another.
  3. The field of biocultural diversity has taken from ethnoecological, ethnobiological, and anthropological insights in order to form a more comprehensive insight into the relationships between human knowledge, language, practice, and the environment. This has been a fundamental change as it alters the once widely accepted assumption of being an inextricable link between cultural diversity and biological diversity.
  4. The paradigm of sustainability is one which uses three distinct pillars to form its foundation, that of economy, society, and environment. Understanding traditional biodiversity plays a key role in this. As such, future development and application of improved biodiversity solutions are only made possible with sustainability and biodiversity working together.
  5. It was the International Society of Ethnobiology which declared in 1988 that there was a link between local and indigenous knowledge about plants, animals, habitats, ecological relations, functions, and low environmental impact that translated to sustainability of traditional forms for the use of natural resources. Humans have successfully maintained, as well as enhanced and in some cases even created biodiversity by way of the diverse cultural practices of managing otherwise “wild” resources and by the varied ways of raising domesticated animal species such as through animal husbandry, agroforestry, fire, and horticulture. This study was particularly important as a counter measure to the idea of bringing nature back to its “original” and “pristine” condition wherein it is no longer affected by humans. The findings actually suggested that there was a great link between the environment and humans, one which was interdependent and at a global level. That means that both humans and nature must be preserved together.
  6. Linguistic diversity functions as a web of intellectual life, something that envelops the Earth and is really essential to the survival of mankind in the same way that biology is paramount to the function of Earth. In fact, the role played by language and culture has been recognized as a potential fourth pillar to the previous three pillars which formed the notion of sustainable biodiversity. UNESCO as well as the IUCN, CBD, and UNEP have worked together to improve the synergies between cultural and biological diversities.
  7. The biocultural world is currently at a negative turning point which can be mitigated by practitioners, researchers, and activists who change their perspective toward biocultural knowledge and improve conservation of human culture in tandem with the conservation of nature. Humans have a responsibility to grow their economy and their future by cultural milestones and by preservation. One should not have to exist without the other, and in fact, cannot. Maintaining local cultures and revitalizing local languages is a form of conservation which should go hand in hand with the conservation of biodiversity, something which celebrates the past and its connection toward the future.
  8. People who are in the thick of the issue are those within the biocultural trenches and these are the people who can provide conceptual and political knowledge and tools to younger generations regarding the diversity within nature and within human culture which makes people, people. This knowledge is what will give people the opportunity to chart a new and sustainable path of culture and ecology.
  9. Diversity has been found to exist among plant and animal species, habitats, ecosystems, as well as human language and culture. Perhaps more surprising is that these ranges of diversities are not necessarily existent in separate realms which are parallel but rather, they exist in complex ways and interact among one another in a co-evolutionary fashion.
  10. The diversity of life is made up of interacting diversities which have developed with time to adapt toward mutual adaptation between the environment and humans in the form of a coevolutionary relationship. This is seen down to the local level, something which indicates that there is a deep connection between the two.

Remember that these are only meant as a guide and you can choose to define whatever topic or word you select using whichever pieces of data you find best represent your overall purpose. If you find it difficult to select the right topic, look through our list that will help you with that. In other case, if there is a problem with an essay structure, use our guide on definition writing. Do not limit yourself to the facts above, but rather, take time to explore concepts and terms similar to your word and look for creative inspiration. Our writing service can be helpful if you experience troubles in academic paper writing.

References
Heckenberger, Michael. “Biocultural Diversity In The Southern Amazon”. Diversity 2.1 (2009): 1-16. Web.
Kerr, R. A. “CLIMATE CHANGE: Humans And Nature Duel Over The Next Decade’s Climate”.Science 317.5839 (2007): 746-747. Web.
Kerr, R. A. “CLIMATE CHANGE: It’s Official: Humans Are Behind Most Of Global Warming”.Science 291.5504 (2001): 566a-566. Web.
Maffi, Luisa, and Ellen Woodley. Biocultural Diversity Conservation. London: Earthscan, 2010. Print.
Stepp, John R, Felice S Wyndham, and Rebecca K Zarger. Ethnobiology And Biocultural Diversity. Athens, GA: International Society of Ethnobiology, 2002. Print.
Vignieri, S. “Humans Mitigate Climate Change Effects”. Science 337.6100 (2012): 1274-1274. Web.
Weston, Burns H., and Tracy Bach. “Recalibrating The Law Of Humans With The Laws Of Nature: Climate Change, Human Rights, And Intergenerational Justice”. SSRN Electronic Journal n. pag. Web.

cta
Upgrade your essays with these FREE writing tools!
Get started now