Link. Back.

Theme 3: Human Impacts on Catchments

Topic: Vegetation Clearance

Impacts of local vegetation clearance

Since the arrival of early European settlers, large areas of land have been cleared of vegetation for the purposes of urban development, grazing and farming. Clearance of land still continues today, particularly in fertile areas.

The loss of the local native vegetation is a serious environmental issue for the following reasons:

  • there is a significant reduction in food and habitat resources for wildlife
  • pest plant species prosper when native vegetation is reduced
  • there is a reduction in the air quality due to lower rates of photosynthesis
  • water quality can decline as the remaining vegetation cannot sufficiently filter the landscape runoff
  • water quality is further reduced due to an increase in the erosion of stream beds. The roots of native vegetation naturally hold stream banks together, preventing erosion. Erosion can also threaten human-made infrastructures such as roads, bridges and houses, and
  • vegetation also holds soil together. Without vegetation, sediment is washed into the waterways with harmful results to the aquatic wildlife. Sediment also flows out to sea where it impacts on the marine environment.

Student Activity Ideas

  • Research pre-European vegetation in your local area and locate any nearby remnant (original) vegetation. Is the remnant vegetation used by humans now? How is the vegetation in your local area managed?
  • Write some stories about the loss of vegetation in your local area and start a media file containing the stories. Discuss issues with students.
  • Debate: People should not be allowed to clear native vegetation for housing, industry and farming.

Enquiry Learning

  • What are the issues that have led to salinity problems across the county?
  • How have irrigation practices compounded salinity problems?
  • How does native vegetation clearance contribute to salinity problems?

Internet Resources

Type Description Resources Covering the Topic
Easy
  • Natural Advantage: A Blueprint for Sustainable Australia.
  • A comprehensive overview of sustainable development, including vegetation issues.
 Australian Conservation Foundation
www.acfonline.org.au/asp/pages/
publicationtyp.asp?IdPublicationTyp=7
  • Vegetation clearance, habitat loss and biodiversity decline in Australia.
 Environment Australia
www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/
publications/series/paper6/bioch3.html
  • Trends in native vegetation clearance in South Australia.
 www.environment.sa.gov.au/reporting/
biodiversity/nativeveg.html
  • Land clearing remains the single biggest threat to biodiversity.
  • Lots of links to other Australian land clearing issues.
 Community Biodiversity Network
nccnsw.org.au/member/cbn/projects/
EducationCentre/hi_land.html
More Comprehensive
  • Land clearing issues at a local, national and state level.
 Australian Conservation Foundation
www.acfonline.org.au/asp/pages/
intro.asp?idTopic=12
  • Land clearing across Qld and Australia.
  • Impacts on biodiversity and whole environment.
 Qld Conservation Council
www.qccqld.org.au/land_clearing/
background.htm
  • Remnant vegetation and its value.
 NSW National Parks and Wildlife
www.npws.nsw.gov.au/wildlife/
savebsh1.htm
  • Sediment pollution.
  • The effects of widespread clearing.
  • PDF download.
 Water and Rivers Commission WA
www.wrc.wa.gov.au/public/
WaterNotes/pdf/17.pdf