The biodiversity in Australia – part a

The biodiversity in Australia – part a

According the definition, biodiversity is the variety of different types of life found on earth. It is a measure of the variety of organisms found in different ecosystems. And here the question comes, “What is good about conserving biodiversity?” The answer is pretty straightforward; all living creatures need other creatures and plants in one way or another. All the daily food we need is benefited from a healthy ecosystem. Proper growth of plants depends on lots of factors other than water and sun, the earthworms that facilitate the growth of plant roots, and hence efficient nutrients, the low amount of plant eating animals such as deer and rabbits, if there is no lions in an ecosystem, the abundant number of herbivore may cause depletion on certain plant species. In fact, importance of a healthy ecosystem, as what a sustainable biodiversity can deliver, is needed to sustain our delicious and vibrant dinner set. =] Who can live without a salmon sashimi every week?

For Australia, known as a country that has a large biodiversity, which is unique in her land, has strategies to conserve such valuable diversity. According to the Department of the Environment, biodiversity in Australia in currently declining due to numbers of threats. The loss of habits due to degradation and fragmentation, the increase of invasive species, unsustainable use and management of natural resources, changes to the aquatic environment and water flows, and the last and the most important one, the climate change, all have negative impacts on the biodiversity. Hence, Australia’s conservation is based on tackling these threats.

References:

1. Why do we need to conserve biodiversity?

https://ypte.org.uk/factsheets/biodiversity/why-do-we-need-to-conserve-biodiversity

2. Australia's Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010-2030

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/publications/australias-biodiversity-conservation-strategy

BUSHHHHHH FIREEEEEEEEE~!!!!!!!!!!

BUSHHHHHH FIREEEEEEEEE~!!!!!!!!!!

“Bush fire is one of the four natural disaster in Australia, together with drought, flooding and severe storm.” My Australian studies lecturer told me in my foundation years. Bushfire, being a frequent event during the hotter months of a year that causes property damage and loss of human life, it is in fact has some linkage to the sense of sustainability.

Certain native floras in Australia have evolved to rely on bushfire as a means of reproduction. And indigenous Australians have used fire to foster grasslands for hunting and to clear tracks through dense bush. Of course, the use of bushfire from indigenous people is under control instead of just burning bush site randomly. Low intensity of bushfire burned in relatively small area was used to maintain a pattern of vegetation to encourage new growth and attract game for hunting, and encourage the development of useful food plants, for cooking, warmth, signaling and spiritual reasons. With the constant moving nature of aboriginals, the constant use of fire indeed resulted in a fine pattern of different vegetation and fuel ages across the landscape. As a group of people populated the Australian continent for more than 40,000 years, their way of living somehow shows their consideration on sustainable living. Appropriate demolishment is attempted for future development, biodiversity is sustained as a result.

References:

1. Bushfire risk management

http://nsw.greens.org.au/policies/nsw/bushfire-risk-management

2. Traditional Aboriginal burning

http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/management/fire/fire-and-the-environment/41-traditional-aboriginal-burning