4.1.

5
T H E P O T E N T I A L I M PA C T O N S O C I E T Y A N D O U T D O O R
E N V I R O N M E N T S O F L A N D D E G R A D AT I O N ,
I N T R O D U C E D S P E C I E S , C L I M AT E C H A N G E ,
U R B A N I S AT I O N A N D O T H E R S I G N I F I C A N T T H R E AT S .
FROM THE STUDY DESIGN

• Students should be able to identify examples of threats, some

of the possible causes of these, and a range of potential
impacts, as they relate to specific environments visited.
T H R E AT S

• Land degradation

• Introduced Species

• Climate Change

• Urbanisation
L A N D D E G R A D AT I O N
Deterioration in the quality of land, its topsoil, vegetation,
and/or water resources, caused usually by excessive or
inappropriate exploitation.
• Causes: Dry land soil salinity due to land clearing cropping and
irrigation. Soil contamination due to fertilizing crops and wetland
drainage for agriculture. Erosion due to land clearing, overgrazing,
pest animals and salinity.

• Impacts on OE’s: Increased erosion and salinity, insufficient

nutrient to support vegetation, reduction in native habitats,
reduction in biodiversity.

• Impacts on Society: Reduces amount of productive land for

agriculture (food production), reduction in water resources,
reduction in biodiversity.
INTRODUCED SPECIES
An introduced species is one that is not naturally occurring in
Australia (not native) e.g. foxes, rabbits, cane toads and
blackberries.
• Causes: Early settlers bringing fauna for sport and farming e.g.
cows, rabbits, foxes etc. Early settlers bringing flora and fauna to
make Australia more like home. Species attaching to equipment or
vessels e.g. Northern Pacific Seastar underneath ships.

• Impacts on OE’s: Compete with and displace native species for

nutritious soil and food, reduce biodiversity, contribute to land
degradation.

• Impacts on society: Loss of biodiversity, some landscapes

dominated by pest and introduced species.
C L I M AT E C H A N G E
A significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns
over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in
average weather conditions, or in the distribution of weather around the average
conditions (i.e., more or fewer extreme weather events).
• Causes: Whilst climate change can be seen as a natural process,
human processes - through the burning of fossil fuels - contributed
largely since the industrial revolution.

• Impacts on OE’s: Increased risk of bushfires, greater intensity of

droughts/floods, reduction of fish stocks due to reduction in stream
flow.

• Impacts on society: Less snow fall resulting in increased need for man
man snow, reduced availability of water for nature and human
consummating (agriculture and manufacturing), melting of Arctic and
Antarctic ice caps - causing widespread flooding.

Full list of impacts on page 270

U R B A N I S AT I O N
The physical growth of urban areas as a result of rural migration and
even suburban concentration into cities, particularly the very largest
ones.
• Causes: Population growth places an increased demand on land for
infrastructure and resources.

• Impacts on OE’s: Habitat modification through loss of vegetation,

introduced species, loss of habitat and biodiversity. Loss of river flows
due to the demand for water, reducing availability for native flora and
fauna. Loss of vegetation for human use.

• Impacts on society: Loss of places to recreate, inspire and be creative in.

Increased pressure on agriculture industry to provide food. Increased
pressure on water supply (translates to higher cost).
B R O A D I M PA C T S O F T H E S E T H R E AT S
• When combining the total impact of the previous threats,
there are many overarching impacts on society. Such as…
• Fewer places to find inspiration or stimulation for creativity

• Less access to recreational sites and challenged based adventure. This leads to
existing places being placed under additional pressures due to larger crowds.

• Decline in the economic viability of the tourist industry as a result of fewer

visitors, resulting in a decrease of income and quality of life for those who rely on
tourism.

• A loss of biodiversity, species extinction, soil degradation and erosion,

increased greenhouse gas emissions, rising salinity levels, a deterioration in water
quality and health, and food shortages.
• The destruction of indigenous lifestyles amongst cultures that rely on the NE
for their survival.

• Pressure and inbalance resulting from introduced species such as feral cats,
rabbits, foxes and weeds leading to the extinction of species and domination of
landscapes and ecosystems by others.

• The potential loss of species with economic, medical, food or resource

benefits.