Land Degradation – Key Components Learning Intentions: Explore the key processes and causes of erosion and land degradation. Know some key examples causing land degradation in Australia. Critically think about images and scenarios presented and link key causes of land degradation together.

Three Key Components to Land Degradation Water, wind and weather Animals and plants People and man-made issues

Land Degradation: Loss of Soil Weathering – the process of breaking down of rocks and minerals Erosion – the process defining the transport (movement) of the smaller parts of the rocks and minerals at some point after the weathering has occurred Transport – the way that small pieces of rocks and minerals by natural causes (suspension by in air or water, in a solution, tumbling along a surface, etc.)

Weathering: Why?

Erosion: Causes?

Transport: How?

Introduced/Invasive Species Can be a plant (flora) or an animal (fauna).

Introduced/Invasive Species In partners talk about: How/why can these be negative? How/why can these be positive?

Introduced/Invasive Species Negative Animals No natural predators so population increases dramatically May be dominant species and kill native plants/animals May eat a lot of vegetation and leave ground bare Soil/rock may not be able to deal with different type of foot pad (hoof vs. paw) Plants Takes too much of certain minerals out of soil causing a shift in what can survive Decomposition of plants waste may add things to soil that affect overall balance and thus cause a shift in what can survive there Both May carry disease which affects native plants/animals Overall: can put the ecosystem around them out of balance and thus create an unsustainable environment. Positive May be used to balance existing issue and not become an issue on its own.

Lack of Vegetation What likely caused the lack of vegetation seen in these pictures?

Other Man-Made Reasons Lack of Management Strategy – not keeping animals out of fragile areas, not rotating crops, etc. Over Fertilizing – putting too many chemicals onto fields which may then leach into waterways/change natural balance

Solutions With a partner use a mind-map to brainstorm any ways you can think of to stop/slow down any of the soil/land degradation issues we have talked about today. Then add to your mind-map any issues that might by caused by your solution.