The following resources have been compiled to serve as examples of the types of OER available in Earth & Environmental Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture. These resources are not exhaustive.
Explore case studies to see how people are building resilience for their businesses and in their communities. Click dots on the map below to preview case studies, or browse all case studies by clicking the button below the map.
This course uses the basic principles of biology and earth science as a context for understanding environmental policies and resource management practices. Our planet is facing unprecedented environmental challenges, from oil spills to global climate change.
The content is intended to be useful for both a broad-based introductory class on sustainability and as a useful supplement to specialist courses which wish to review the sustainability dimensions of their areas of study. By including glossaries, review questions, case studies, and links to further resources, the text has sufficient range to perform as the core resource for a semester course. Students who cover the material in the book will be equipped for further study in sustainable planning, policy, economics, climate, ecology, infrastructure, and more.
A comprehensive survey of American Environmental History covering the exodus and evolution of homo sapiens to food production and transportation in modern day.
Physical Geology is a comprehensive introductory text on the physical aspects of geology, including rocks and minerals, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, glaciation, groundwater, streams, coasts, mass wasting, climate change, planetary geology and much more. It has a strong emphasis on examples from western Canada.
Essentials of Geographic Information Systems integrates key concepts behind the technology with practical concerns and real-world applications. Recognizing that many potential GIS users are nonspecialists or may only need a few maps, this book is designed to be accessible, pragmatic, and concise.
This is a forest measurements textbook written for field technicians. Silvicultural applications and illustrations are provided to demonstrate the relevance of the measurements. Special “technique tips” for each skill are intended to help increase data collection accuracy and confidence.
Youtube videos from the USDA Forest Service. Established in 1905, the Forest Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Forest Service manages public lands in national forests and grasslands.
World Regional Geography: People, Places and Globalization is designed for students to experience and study as much of the world as possible within a limited amount of time. It gives students the fundamental concepts and the latest data regarding world places in a concise, easy-to-read format.
The Future of Food is an introductory-level science course that emphasizes the challenges facing food systems in the 21st century, and issues of sustainability for agriculture and other food production activities as well as the challenges posed by food insecurity and modern diets to human health and well-being.
Virtual Soil Science Learning Resources (VSSLR) group is focused on developing innovative, open access educational resources for a variety of undergraduate and graduate natural resource courses and programs. The group was initiated by Dr. Maja Krzic (UBC, Vancouver) in 2004 and it has become the focal point for collaborative educational efforts among scientists, students, and multimedia experts from 12 postsecondary and 3 research institutions in Canada and internationally.
Graphics, videos, and short descriptions of the soil formation process. The website includes information on landscape evolution, soil formation, parent materials, soil landscapes, and more.
This online resource includes images, videos, and short articles about the forest floor. Its objectives are to introduce students to the properties of forest floors, organic horizons under well drained or poorly drained soils, and the types of humus forms, in the hopes of helping students understand the forest floor as an integral component of soils and forest ecosystems.
Permaculture Design is a method of land planning that can be applied at scales from the home garden to city block to village to farm. It is an ethically based whole-systems design approach that uses concepts, principles, and methods derived from ecosystems, indigenous technologies, and other time-tested practices to create sustainable human settlements and institutions.
Lessons, animations, and other educational materials related to agriculture, horticulture, plant physiology, and other topics. [Some links and interactive modules are broken. Review available resources before committing]
