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Theme 3: Human Impacts on Catchments


Following are some Broad Learning Outcomes and Activities which
relate to all of the fourteen topics listed on the menu, and covered
by this Theme.

Learning Outcome

Students will understand:

  • the impacts and consequences of different human activities on water, biodiversity and catchments.

Learning Activities

Students will:

  • understand that we all live in a catchment and they will discover ways in which humans can change catchments.
  • discover that all catchments have been altered by humans in some way. The impact of human intervention varies greatly in urbanised settings, agricultural and wilderness areas.
  • discover that human impacts on water have an effect on the whole environment from the start of the water journey to the coastal environments where most catchments end.
  • examine issues regarding water quantity, including the impact of changed water flows and salinity on the natural environment. They will understand the connections between human impact on the environment and the degradation of the water supply for consumption, human food sources and ecosystems.
  • understand our water supply system and the competing demands for water.
  • examine the impact of pollution on water quality and catchments. They will understand that pollution can come from agriculture, public and/or private wastewater, industrial and business hazardous wastes and energy production waste. It can also come from industry including forestry, mining and urban sources. Students will learn about pollutants and the impact of water quality on health, human food sources and plant and animal communities, including the overall health of fresh water, marine and estuarine ecosystems.
  • understand the impact of pest plants and animals on catchments and biodiversity, including threatened species.