Biodiversity Pathway

Step 1: Form an Eco-Action Team

The Eco-Action Team is the driving force behind Eco-Schools USA. Ideally, your Eco-Action Team should be representative of the whole school community—including people beyond the school walls, such as facilities staff, board members, and members of the greater community. Eco-Schools USA has developed a worksheet to help guide the development of this team.

Step 2: Conduct an Environmental Audit

The Environmental Checklist is an essential tool for understanding the current environmental situation in your school. It provides the basis for your Eco-Action Plan. Eco-Schools USA has developed an activity to get your students started.

In addition to the optional Environmental Checklist, pathway-specific audits allow teams to utilize a pathway-specific lens to dive deeper into problems and solutions, and provide the basis for the team’s Eco-Action Plan.

K-2 Conducting a Biodiversity Audit | K-2 Baseline Audit | K-2 Post-Action Audit

3-5 Conducting a Biodiversity Audit | 3-5 Baseline Audit | 3-5 Post-Action Audit

6-8 Conducting a Biodiversity Audit | 6-8 Baseline Audit | 6-8 Post-Action Audit

9-12 Conducting a Biodiversity Audit | 9-12 Baseline Audit | 9-12 Post-Action Audit

Additional Audit Resources

K-2 Baseline Worksheet: Define an Inventory Site | K-2 Baseline Worksheet: Animals | K-2 Baseline Worksheet: Plants and Fungi | K-2 Baseline Worksheet: Trees and Shrubs
K-2 Post-Action Worksheet: Define and Inventory Site | K-2 Post-Action Worksheet: Animals | K-2 Post-Action Worksheet: Plants and Fungi | K-2 Post-Action Worksheet: Trees and Shrubs 

3-5 Baseline Worksheet: Define an Inventory Site | 3-5 Baseline Worksheet: Animals | 3-5 Baseline Worksheet: Plants and Fungi | 3-5 Baseline Worksheet: Trees and Shrubs
3-5 Post-Action Worksheet: Define and Inventory Site | 3-5 Post-Action Worksheet: Animals | 3-5 Post-Action Worksheet: Plants and Fungi | 3-5 Post-Action Worksheet: Trees and Shrubs

6-8 Baseline Worksheet: Define an Inventory Site | 6-8 Baseline Worksheet: Animals | 6-8 Baseline Worksheet: Plants and Fungi |6-8 Baseline Worksheet:Trees and Shrubs | 6-8 Post-Action Worksheet: Define an Inventory Site | 6-8 Post-Action Worksheet: Animals | 6-8 Post-Action Worksheet: Plants and Fungi | 6-8 Post-Action Worksheet: Trees and Shrubs

9-12 Baseline Worksheet: Define an Inventory Site | 9-12 Baseline Worksheet: Animals | 9-12 Baseline Worksheet: Plants and Fungi | 9-12 Baseline Worksheet: Trees and Shrubs
9-12 Post-Action Worksheet: Define and Inventory Site | 9-12 Post-Action Worksheet: Animals | 9-12 Post-Action Worksheet: Plants and Fungi | 9-12 Post-Action Worksheet: Trees and Shrubs

Step 3: Create an Eco-Action Plan

The action plan follows as the result of analysis and conclusions drawn from the Environmental Audit and sets forth a series of goals, actions, and a timeline for achieving environmental improvements.

To get started, preview the sample action plan for the Biodiversity pathway. This example is designed to be a springboard to developing the team’s own action plan.

Use the blank action plan to develop the team’s vision. 

Sample Action Plan (K-5) | Blank Action Plan (K-5)
Sample Action Plan (6-12) | Blank Action Plan (6-12)

Step 4: Monitor and Evaluate Progress

Monitoring and evaluation are intrinsic elements of the action plan, helping to check progress toward goals, make adjustments for greater success, and validate that actions are making an impact.

Step 5: Link to Existing Curriculum

Enrich your classroom curriculum with Eco-Schools projects and activities.

Step 6: Involve the Community

Communities are made up of diverse perspectives. When students consistently and authentically work to include community members from all walks of life, not just the school community, they are gaining access to dynamic networks whose end goals are the same, making their place in this world happier and healthier.

Step 7: Create an Eco-Code

The Eco-Code is the school’s mission statement and should demonstrate—in a positive, inclusive, and imaginative way—the whole school’s commitment to improving their environmental performance.