This unit examines questions about biodiversity and its preservation through six activities. Each activity allows students to explore a particular approach to preservation and to identify some of the challenges facing policymakers. Through the introductory activities and the six focused activities, students develop an understanding of the dynamics that exist beneath the surface of preservation activities. The activities were chosen to encourage thinking about the balancing of different values in determining how best to promote biodiversity. The unit is designed primarily for teachers of biology, contemporary world issues, or environmental studies, grades 7-12. Each activity contains a teacher's section with background materials, extension questions to assist in debriefing, related issues for further research, an activity card, resource cards needed to complete the task, and an individual report to reinforce individual and group accountability. Activities of the unit include: (1) Orientation Activities; (2) "Species Preservation"; (3) "Regenerative Use"; (4) "Biosphere Reserves"; (5) "Ecotourism"; (6) "Public/Private Partnerships"; (7) "Public Policy"; and (8) "Developing a Plan for Preserving Biodiversity in Our Neighborhood." Two appendices conclude the unit: (1) a 14-item bibliography and (2) the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity. (EH)