The Role of Environmental

Movements
From the study design
Key Knowledge:
● The foundation and role of environmental movements in changing
relationships with outdoor environments, in relation to at least one of
the following:
– Lake Pedder
- The Franklin River
Key Skills:
● describe and analyse the changing relationships with Australian
outdoor environments influenced by historical events and associated
key social and cultural issues
● evaluate the role of a specific environmental movement in changing
relationships with outdoor environments
What is an environmental Movement
✓Non-government organisations
✓groups who conduct campaigns on environmental
issues
✓community based and made up of volunteers
✓aim to change government policy and protect
environments.
Introduction: Why do we need to study this?
● This area focuses on a time of real change in attitudes amongst
society and the relationships we have with nature.

Brief history:
● Little early concern for the environment, although there was a
recognition of pollution – particularly in water sources – as an issue.
First environmental laws passed.
● Naturalists become interested in Australian flora and fauna
throughout the 19th century.
● The first National Parks form in the latter part of the 19th century.
Royal National Park in Sydney, declared in 1879, is the second such
place in the world.
● The rise of recreation in the early 20th century – including skiing,
bushwalking, and scouting – gives Australians a greater connection
with natural places and leads to the formation of many protection and
preservation groups.
Student task
● You are to read the case studies on pages 167/168
(Lake Pedder) and 170-172 (Franklin River):

1. What was the Lake Pedder campaign? What where

the conflicting views/interest parties involved?
2. Summarise the events of the Franklin river case
study (one paragraph.
3. List the different environmental interest groups
mentioned and describe in each conflict and what
role they played.
4. Were they is successful? Why/why not?
5. Watch Lake pedder campaign video
Watch some of the two videos

● Lake Pedder
Lake Pedder
● On March 8, 1955, the Lake Pedder National Park
was proclaimed and in 1968 was incorporated into
the South West National Park
● Plans for a dam were announced in 1967, after much
campaigning, it was flooded in 1972 as part of a
state-run Hydro-Electric Commission management.
● Fightback began with a petition of 10,000 signatures
● Was ultimately unsuccessful
● The foundation of environmental movements
working to save The Franklin River
● South West Tasmanian Action Committee: (In 1976
changed its name to TWS)
● Tasmanian Wilderness Society TWS (in 1984
renamed The Wilderness Society)
● This environmental movements initial experience
was gained from unsuccessful efforts campaigning in
the late 60’s to save Lake Pedder.
The Wilderness Society
● Established in 1976,
● Not-for-profit, non-government organisation.
● Funding: is provided by members who pay membership
and regular donations to support our work. Other funds
come from public fundraising, bequests and donations, and
online and retail sales of campaign merchandise

Role: “TWS is a national, community-based, environmental

advocacy organisation whose purpose is protecting,
promoting and restoring wilderness and natural processes
across Australia for the survival and ongoing evolution of
life on Earth”
 Wilderness Society: Franklin River
Campaign
● The Franklin and Lake Pedder campaigned are significant
moments in Australian history developing environmentalism at a
national level.
● These major campaigns began to influence the way people
perceived nature and the relationships/interactions people have
with nature.
● The fight between using the land for its resources vs
conservation/sustainability (Huge media attention!)
● From these campaigns “The Wilderness Society” was formed and
now has become the largest national community based
conservation organisation.
● Today they are involved in several campaigns:
climate change, Gunns Pulp Mill, Kimberley, Marine and Coastal,
River protection, Coal Seam Gas...
The Photo
What you need to know about the
Environmental Movement
● Describe this environmental movement, including an
overview of its foundation, aims and achievements

● Describe how this environmental movement is

connected with your chosen environment

● Evaluate the role this environmental movement has

played in changing relationships with this
environment.

OK NOW LETS ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS!

Describe this environmental movement,
including an overview of its foundation, aims
and achievements
This has been covered in previous slides but here is a shortened
description:
Describe- expands on your knowledge, marks usually depends on
amount of marks.

● The Wilderness Society (TWS) is Australia's largest national,

community-based, conservation organisation
● TWS is a national, community-based, environmental advocacy
organisation whose purpose is protecting, promoting and restoring
wilderness and natural processes across Australia for the survival and
ongoing evolution of life on Earth
● Since its formation in 1976, The Wilderness Society has achieved the
secure protection of over seven million hectares of wilderness.
● TWS works through the avenues of public education and
empowerment, advocacy and negotiation, political lobbying, and
desk and field research.
Describe how this environmental movement
is connected with your chosen environment
Describe- expands on your knowledge, marks usually depends on amount
of marks.
Lets plan this answer by making a list of their involvement then will
describe it on the next slide.

List of ideas:
Grass roots activism as seen in the protests against the desalination plant
The establishment of the Bunurong marine park
The establishment of the SGCS
Evaluate the role this environmental
movement has played in changing
relationships with this environment.
Key words: Evaluate, changing relationships, this environment
● Evaluate: a response that provides reasons why something has
occurred and gives a position (effective/ not effective) based on
pros and cons.
● Changing relationships: how has it changed perceptions,
interactions and impacts
● This environment: Make clear references to the chosen
environment

● Step 1: Outline a position: A positive or negative impact?

● Step 2: How TWS has encouraged positives impacts on the
environment
● Step 3: How TWS has impacts changed some interactions
● Step 4: How TWS is/will change perceptions of the area
 Previous Exam Question
● Evaluate two ways in which environmental movements
such as the Franklin or Pedder have shaped human
relationships with the Australian environment. (4 marks)

● You could answer his the same as before but lets look at it
from a more National level as it asks “with the Australian
Environment”. Not this environment “Burnurong”.
 Possible answer suggestions:
● Perceptions:
People are now much more aware of environmental issues because of TWS national
involvement. There has been a change in the perception of the environment, becoming
a major political issue – governments are taking notice of the communities changing
perceptions and environmental issues can affect the way people act and vote.

● Interactions:
Conservation groups are now larger, organised groups with a broad range of issues rather
than just single issue groups with local focus.
People are now prepared to get organised and stand up for environments they know and
even those they don’t know.

● Impacts:
Conservation groups have led to many positive outcomes for the environment – protection
of areas and native species, regeneration of areas, tree planting, weed removal.

● You could use your knowledge and specific examples of TWS and the Franklin/pedder
campaign.
Students should discuss two major points in relation to human relationships with the
natural environment and how it has changed due to the growth of the conservation
movement. 2 marks for each point if well discussed.