CONSΕRVΑTION CRISIS

Hey there! Let’s talk about a big problem we have on our hands: the conservation crisis. It’s something we need to take seriously and address right away.

So, what really is the conservation crisis? Well, it’s when we’re facing a situation where many species of plants and animals are in danger of disappearing forever. It’s a real concern because it disrupts the delicate balance of nature and threatens our own existence as well.

Now, you might be wondering how this crisis came about. Well, it’s a result of several factors. One of the main reasons is human activity. You see, as we continue to develop and expand, we end up encroaching on the habitats of many species. This destroys their homes and disrupts their natural way of life.

Another significant factor is climate change. The world is getting warmer, and this has a huge impact on ecosystems. Many species are unable to adapt to these changes, and as a result, they’re struggling to survive.

But don’t worry, there’s still hope for us! We can make a difference by taking action. You might be thinking, “What can I possibly do?” Well, here are a few things you can start with:

• Reduce, reuse, and recycle: By being mindful of what we consume and finding ways to reuse and recycle materials, we can minimize waste and help conserve resources.
• Support conservation organizations: There are many amazing organizations out there dedicated to protecting and preserving our natural world. You can show your support by donating or volunteering your time.
• Spread awareness: Share information about the conservation crisis with your friends and family. The more people who are aware of the issue, the more likely we are to find solutions.

Remember, we all have a responsibility to protect our planet and its incredible biodiversity. By taking small steps in our daily lives, we can contribute to a brighter future for all living creatures. Together, we can combat the conservation crisis and ensure a sustainable world for generations to come.

When you play this game, you’ll be moving around a big board and making smart choices to protect your reserves and help your wildlife population grow. It’s all about making the right decisions!

GETTING READY

Let’s start by placing the main board right in the middle of the play area. We need to make sure the wooden player pieces are placed at Head Quarters (HQ).

Next, it’s time to choose which animal we want to save. You can pick up the wildlife reserve player boards to help you make your decision.

Now, let’s shuffle each deck of cards separately and put them in their designated spots on the game board.

Don’t forget to find the Crisis Averted card in the Event cards. Once you have it, slip it somewhere in the bottom quarter of the cards.

Lastly, each player will receive $100,000 of Donor funding and an additional $25,000 as Crisis Fund to begin the game.

How to Play

Okay, listen up! Here’s how we’re gonna do this: the person whose animal name starts with the first letter of the alphabet goes first. Easy peasy.

We take turns going clockwise, like a big circle. Round and round we go!

We all start at the Headquarters. Look for the arrows on the road and pick a route. Follow it, and off we go!

Now pay attention: when we land on certain spots (some are orange, some are black), we have to stop and do what they say. The orange spots are special – only one of us can be there at a time. But the black spots? We can all hang out there if we want!

At the orange spots, we can buy stuff that helps our animal friends or helps the people in our reserve. So, spend wisely!

Oh, and cool news: when we buy things at the orange spots, our animal population jumps up by 5. Awesome, right?

When I’m playing the game, I have the option to buy something at an orange spot multiple times, unless there’s a rule saying I can’t.

The black spots are where instructions are given. I have to choose the right cards and follow what they say.

My turn ends when I land on a spot and do what it says. Then it’s the next player’s turn.

On my next turn, I move to another spot along my path. I can’t do the same action that ended my previous turn.

Each action I take is shown on my personal wildlife board by placing tiny black tokens on the matching icons.

If I land on a Community and Staff Meeting spot, I pick a card, read the instructions out loud to everyone, and then do what it says.

If the card lets me keep going, I move to the next orange spot on the board. If not, I stay on the black spot until my next turn.

If I land on the Poachers checkpoint, I have two choices.

• I can pay a bribe of $10,000 and take a bribe card to continue my turn around the board.
• I can refuse to pay the bribe and end my current turn, losing the next one as well.

If I choose to pay and take a bribe card, I must not look at it until I reach HQ.

SCORING

When I make my way back to HQ, I have six options to choose from, depending on what applies to me.

• If I paid a bribe, I must read the bribe card out loud and do what it says.

When playing this game, I would start by grabbing an event card and reading it out loud. We all have to follow the instructions on the card before placing it face up in the discard pile. If there are only two of us playing, we each take two event cards.

If we run out of money from our initial donor fund, we can apply for more funding. But if we still have money left and apply for more, we lose any extra funding we had.

We can receive tourist income, but only if we qualify for it. To qualify, we need to make certain moves on the board.

If we hire staff to work for us, we have to pay them using our donor fund. If we don’t have enough money to pay them, we lose the staff we can’t afford and have to adjust our game tokens accordingly.

When we reach HQ, we all get five animals. Remember to put the black tokens on your player board to show this. If you hire a vet or restore a habitat, you get an extra five animals, so make sure to add those to your board too.

The game ends when someone picks up the “Crisis Averted” card and reads it out loud. The player with the most animals wins.

Bassey Onwuanaku is a Nigerian Edugamer who wants to make learning fun for kids in Nigeria. She has her own educational games café, where kids can come and play. Bassey loves kids, board games, and taking care of animals. She’s also starting to design her own educational board games.