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Theme 2: Biodiversity & Ecosystems

Topic: Native Vegetation

Why is native vegetation important?

Native vegetation is one of our most precious natural assets. It helps provide a healthy environment for humans and all life. It provides an essential habitat for native animals and underpins our natural ecosystems. Native vegetation plays an important role in stabilising the soil, making it less vulnerable to wind and water erosion. It also reduces the impact of climate change by absorbing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Unfortunately, many of these benefits are 'hidden' and most are often taken for granted. Native vegetation is also important in preventing dry-land salinity through its influence on groundwater levels. It also provides valuable shelter and windbreaks for stock and crops.

How is native vegetation threatened in Australia and South Australia?

Australia's native vegetation is rapidly vanishing due to it being cleared to make way for agriculture, housing and other land uses. Other pressures that have affected the condition of native vegetation include:

  • over-grazing and trampling by sheep, cattle, rabbits, goats and camels
  • the invasion by weeds such as Bridal Creeper and Blackberry
  • fire
  • plant diseases
  • firewood collection
  • increased soil salinity and rising groundwater
  • altered water flows in rivers and streams
  • and pollution.

Less than one-third of South Autsralia's native vegetation remains intact.

What happens when we clear native vegetation?

The environmental effects of the clearance of native vegetation are significant and include:

  • loss of habitat for native plants and animals
  • potential loss of plant species and reductions in genetic diversity
  • fragmentation of habitats, reductions in population sizes of plant and animal species with an increased potential for local extinctions associated with single events, such as bushfires
  • increased salinity problems associated with the removal of deep-rooted perennial plants
  • increased vulnerability to weed invasion
  • de-stabilisation of soil, leading to wind and water erosion
  • impact on the health of catchments
  • changes in water flow patterns and hydrology
  • increased greenhouse implications (the removal of vegetation inhibits the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere).

Riparian zones: what are they and why are they important?

The riparian zone is land which is next to a water-body, like a river or lake, and is influenced by that water-body. Riparian zones generally have a great diversity of animals and plants compared to adjoining habitats. The vegetation found in riparian zones ranges from aquatic plants to mature trees and understorey vegetation. Riparian vegetation is very important for providing habitat for animals, stabilising creek beds, preventing erosion, and protecting water quality. Riparian zones are threatened by loss of native vegetation, weed invasion, inappropriate development and unrestricted stock access.

Student Activity Ideas

  • Make a herbarium. Visit: www.ourpatch.on.net/pdf/herbarium1.pdf
  • Get involved in the Catchment Care/Our Patch programs
  • Students to research the role of native vegetation in different areas of your catchment - from the hills to coastal zones, in wetlands and along riparian zones, etc.
  • Students to research the different species of native vegetation indigenous to your catchment.

Enquiry Learning

  • What value is native vegetation as a provider of ecosystem services across the whole environment, including the provision of clean water?
  • How does native vegetation provide habitats?
  • What is the importance of native vegetation in the riparian zone and across the whole landscape to maintain ecosystems?
  • What is the role of native vegetation in estuaries, mangroves, coastal zones and oceans?
  • What is the role of native vegetation in freshwater ecosystems?

Internet Resources

Type Description Resources Covering the Topic
Easy
  • Fact sheet on Native Vegetation.
  • Simple explanation on why native vegetation is important.
 The Murray Urban Users Committee
www.murrayusers.sa.gov.au/pdfs/
nativevegetation.PDF
  • Why are water plants so important?
  • Considers why plants in a wetland are so important.
 KESAB Patawalonga and Torrens Waterwatch
www.cwmb.sa.gov.au/kwc/
programs/why_wetlands/5.htm
  • Vegetation Associations - includes lesson ideas.
 Onkaparinga Catchment Water Management Board
www.onkaparinga.net/education/
downloads/folder_2/
5i_vegassoc.pdf
  • Introduction to Botany - includes lesson ideas.
 Onkaparinga Catchment Water Management Board
www.onkaparinga.net/education/
downloads/folder_2/
6i_botany.pdf
  • Identify - includes lesson ideas.
 Onkaparinga Catchment Water Management Board
www.onkaparinga.net/education/
downloads/folder_2/
8i_localnative.pdf
More Comprehensive
  • River ecosystems.
  • The role of native vegetation in maintaining river ecosystems.
 Land and Water Australia
www.rivers.gov.au/manage/
is4rivereco.htm
  • River ramblers.
  • Information about the role of native vegetation in riparian ecosystems.
 Land and Water Australia
www.rivers.gov.au/training/
ramblers/index.htm
  • Benefits of native vegetation for agriculture.
  • Comprehensive look at the issues.
 Australian Plants Society
www.austplants-nsw.org.au/nativeag.htm
  • Stream-bank vegetation is valuable.
  • Short PDF download with concise information.
 Qld Government Natural Resources and Mines
www.nrm.qld.gov.au/factsheets/
pdf/river/R30.pdf
  • Vegetation, trees on the riverbank.
  • PDF download.
 Murray Issues
www.murrayusers.sa.gov.au/pdfs/
MIssues4vegetation.pdf
  • Fish need trees.
  • Explains the benefits of riparian zones.
 Qld Government. Forestry
www.forests.qld.gov.au/
educat/btl/fish.htm