Inspire Team

How Wolves Change Rivers

by for .  
#transforming systems
30 +

Goal

This discussion focuses on systems thinking using a real-life example from Yellowstone National Park. It explores interconnected relationships when wolves were reintroduced into an ecosystem, and the impact they had. 

Materials

    Instructions

    1. Introduction to Systems Thinking


    • Briefly introduce the concept of systems thinking, explaining how elements in an ecosystem are interconnected and influence each other. Those influences can be positive or negative.

    • Let learners know they’ll be watching a short clip from Yellowstone National Park in the United States.

    • The group will watch and discuss the clip together to understand and explore these complex relationships.


    1. Video Watching and Reflection


    • Play the video

      • Alternatively, read the script aloud or provide learners with a copy of the script before playing the video. This can help those who may want to revisit certain aspects of the video throughout the discussion.

      • The full transcript of the video can be found in the video details

    • Encourage learners to pay attention to how the introduction of wolves impacted various elements in the ecosystem.

    • Ask them to consider which elements the wolves directly impacted, and which ones they indirectly impacted (like dominos).

    • Give learners a few minutes once the video is over to collect their thoughts and observations.


    1. Facilitate a discussion about the video. Consult the debrief questions section as well.

      1. What do you think the main takeaway from the video is?

      2. Can you think of any other examples of how people do that might change how nature works?

      3. Can you think of any examples from your community/region that are similar to what we saw in this video?

      4. How did bringing back wolves in Yellowstone affect not only animals but also how the land looks?

      5. Why is it important to understand how different parts of nature are connected when we make choices about the environment?

      6. How can thinking about systems—how things work together— help not just in nature but also in neighborhoods, communities, businesses or your own life?

      7. Have you ever come across someone trying to do something positive that might have had unintended consequences? How could systems thinking have helped in that situation?


    Optional Add ON:

    Identifying Interconnected Elements

    • In small groups, provide learners with large sheets of paper and markers.

    • Ask each group to identify and list the interconnected elements mentioned in the video script. Emphasize not only ecological aspects but also human and geographical impacts.


    Systems Mapping Exercise

    • In the same small groups, instruct learners to create a visual systems map illustrating the connections between wolves, deer, vegetation, rivers, and human geography.

    • Emphasize the cause-and-effect relationships in the ecosystem.


    Background

    Preparation

    • Familiarize yourself with the video and its content in advance

    • Generate a list of examples from the region/communities of the learners that would connect to the video’s content

    Technology Considerations

    • Ensure access to a reliable internet connection and video projection for in-person settings.

    • In virtual sessions, use video conferencing platforms for discussion and collaborative tools, if doing the add on systems mapping exercise.

    • Ensure the subtitles are on for the video when playing, to support accessibility needs of learners.


    Additional Context

    • Relate the discussion to broader environmental issues, emphasizing the importance of considering interconnectedness in decision-making and community development.

    • Relate the discussion to local environmental and other issues that are familiar to the learners, to help them make links to how systems exist in their own communities and lives.



    Tips for Localization

    Encourage learners to explore local examples of interconnected ecosystems and human impacts, making the activity more relevant to their region. See debrief questions for ideas.

    Debrief Questions

    • Think about where you live. Can you identify any examples of how changes in one part of your community might affect other things?

    • Consider people or activities in your neighborhood. How might they be connected, just like different animals and plants are connected in nature?

    • Reflect on any changes you've noticed in your community over the years. How did these changes impact the way people live or the environment around you?

      • Has your community been impacted by wildfires, sea ice level changes, floods or other “natural” disasters?

        • How has this impacted the land and animals around you?

      • What impact has climate change had on your community?

        • Ex: changes in traditional knowledge and environments, changes in new or invasive species, changes in terms of species at risk.

    • Discuss any plants, animals, or even weather patterns you've observed in your community. How might these elements be part of a larger system, similar to how nature works in the Yellowstone example?

    • Imagine you are trying to improve something in your community, like a park or a common space. How could you make sure that your changes have positive effects, just like the wolves did in Yellowstone?




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