Instructions:  Write 3 essays from the questions offered below and answer each of your selections in CONCISE essay form 3 pages or less for each question. Your essays can also include maps, tables, lists, pictures, or other graphic materials, if you feel these will help support your argument and explanation, and these materials will not count towards the total pages. It is important to remember that there is no right answer to any of these questions. The best answer will be one that reflects your thoughtful consideration of the information we have covered this semester, supported by points raised in our discussions and in our readings and other literature that you may discover through new research. Please submit your written responses in an email message to me in one composite Word file.

Assess and Identify and describe some of the specific threats you see that have altered the biodiversity in the area of your home as a result of human economies and livelihoods (choose the place you feel best represents home for you) refer to the categories we reviewed in our class on Threats to Biodiversity. Then list some specific solutions you feel could be used to try to reduce, mitigate, or reverse these threats.
 
Describe 3 policies you think could realistically be established by state or federal government to help reduce the threats to wildlife and biodiversity from the adverse impacts we are having on the climate. Make certain that your suggestions are ones that could realistically be accepted by the public. What arguments would you use to convince politicians to adopt these policies, and the public to abide by them?

You have taken a job with Citibank as part of their Sustainable Finance division. Citibank provides loans to companies and governments in 140 countries, and many of their loans are for projects that involve agriculture and forest development; energy (including both renewable and non-renewable sources); road construction; manufacturing; tourism; and other sectors that can have a significant impact on ecosystem services, habitats, and biodiversity. You have been asked to develop the criteria to be used to make certain that any projects financed by Citibank through their loans do not threaten biodiversity or ecosystem services. Your criteria will be used by bank employees as part of their Environment-Social-Governance (ESG) standards in order to screen requests for loans to finance projects greater than $5,000,000 in value. List the criteria you will recommend they include to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services. Explain how each criterion provides a mechanism to provide good accountability for risks to nature and biodiversity.