"We have modified our environment so radically that we must now modify ourselves to exist in this new environment."

- Norbert Wiener

• • What type of land is considered arable?
  • How much is there?
• • How many different types of crops are grown?
  • What are they?
• • Are non-edible crops grown?
  • Why?
• • Do people keep all of their crop or do they sell some for additional compensation?
• • Is farming a respectable profession?

• • What domestic and wild species live in the regions?
• • Are animals hunted?
  • Is hunting for food or is it considered recreation?
• • How are animals treated?
  • Are certain animals sacred?
• • Are there any kinds of animals that are kept as pets?
  • Are there any organizations to monitor their treatment?
• • Are there any local zoos?
  • What kind of animals are in them?

• • What are the ingredients, both natural and chemical?
• • What types of cleaning materials are used regularly by people?
• • What are the cleaning materials used for?
• • Are cleaning agents made locally or imported?
  • Is exporting cleaning materials a source of income?

• • What are the typical weather patterns, including winds, highs and lows and precipitation, throughout the year?
• • Are there have four, evenly spaced seasons?
• • Is there a reliable technological (or nontechnological) way of predicting weather?
• • How does the climate affect people's lifestyles?

• • Is conservation a government supported effort?
  • If so, what has the government done?
• • Are there any activist groups for environment conservation?
  • What are their goals?
  • Have the goals been accomplished?
• • Are there any endangered or extinct species in the area?
  • What are they?
• • Are there any endangered types of vegetation?
• • Is there anything in the way of conservation efforts being successful?
  • What?

• • What kind of fuels are used?
  • For what purpose?
  • Are they naturally occurring?
  • Manmade?
• • By what method are these fuels obtained?
• • Are there any efforts to try alternative fuels?
  • By whom are these efforts organized and funded?

• • Near what types of geographical landmarks do people live?
  • Is there water nearby?
• • What is the culture’s explanation for the geographical occurrences around them?
• • Why do these people live in the geographical region that they do?
  • Is it out of necessity?
  • Historical?
• • What is the nearest source of natural disasters?
  • Volcanoes?
  • Ocean?
  • Seismic plate seams?

• • What types of materials are mined locally?
  • What kinds of mined materials are imported?
  • Why?
• • Who owns the mines?
• • What are mined materials used for?
  • How are these materials allocated or purchased?
• • Are these materials exported?
  • To whom?
  • For what purpose?
• • What is the local value of different types of mined minerals?

• • What type of explanation does the culture have for natural disasters?
  • Religious, scientific, superstitious, etc.?
• • Does the area's geographic location make it prone to any particular disasters such as earthquakes, floods, or tidal waves?
• • Is there an effective system in place to deal with natural disasters when they occur?
• • Is migration necessary to avoid natural disasters?
• • How do people prepare for and cope with disasters?

• • What natural resources does the region have?
• • Does the culture use their resources or sell them to contribute to their local economy?
• • Is resource conservation an issue, or are supplies abundant?
• • What natural resource problems have already been faced?
  • What conflicts are foreseeable in the future?

• • Is there a visible pollution presence in the air, water, or anywhere else?
• • Are there problems with Ozone depletion in this area?
• • Where does the pollution come from, and who is responsible for it?
• • If there are pollution laws or regulations, who writes them and enforces them?
• • Are there any groups who are active in preventing pollution?

• • If there is urban development in this region, where is it taking place?
  • Why is development occurring there rather than elsewhere?
• • What is the rate of development?
  • What does this say about the culture's economy, values, and social structure?
• • Is there a system in place to take care of sewage and garbage?
• • Who is living in, and moving into the new urban areas?

• • What types of plant life are natural to the area?
• • Are native plants used for things such as cooking or medicinal remedies?
• • Have non-native types of vegetation been introduced that were detrimental to native plants?
• • Is it common for people to look after and cultivate foliage for aesthetic reasons?
  • Does it reflect social status?
• • What is the purpose of landscaping?
  • Is it a necessity?
  • Does it serve as camouflage?

• • Is it necessary to worry about water shortages or overabundances?
• • Do irrigation systems exist?
  • Are they natural or manmade?
• • Are there plumbing systems to facilitate running water and sanitation?
• • How close is the nearest body of water and what type is it?
• • What kinds of water wildlife are there?