The National Geography Standards

The National Geography Standards for this program include standards 7, 9, 11, 14, and 16. You may read in-depth descriptions of specific standards by clicking on the links below. All of the standards are available here.

Standard 7: The physical processes that shape the patterns of Earth's surface.

Standard 9: The characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations on Earth's surface.

Standard 11: The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth's surface.

Standard 14: How human actions modify the physical environment.

Standard 16: The changes that occur in the meaning, use, distribution, and importance of resources.

Cote d'Ivoire: Cocoa and Change portrays the small African country of Cote d'Ivoire. The country is the largest cocoa producer in the world, in part due to its geographic location near the equator. Its vast plantation system provides an example of human modification of the physical environment. The second case study, Gabon: Sustainable Resources?, examines the effects of a single resource economy on migration and urbanization. It also looks at the possibilities of sustainable development and ecotourism. Both case studies reflect the risk to a country of over dependence on resource-based commodities in international trade.