Actions to sustain healthy outdoor environments. 4.2.6 Actions to sustain healthy outdoor environments.

From the study guide Key Knowledge: Actions taken to sustain healthy outdoor environments. Key Skills: Analyse a range of specific actions undertaken to sustain healthy outdoor environments. Evaluate these specific actions as to how they can contribute to sustainable outdoor environments. We will focus on both Renewable Energy and Landcare.

Action one Renewable Energy

What is it? As we should know from Unit 2, renewable energy is energy that comes from resources which are naturally replenished. Humans must continue to pursue renewable energy sources as: We are consuming fossil fuels 100,000 times faster than they are being produced. CO2 is emitted from the burning of fossil fuels, contributing to global warming and health issues.

Major types of renewable energy Wind Solar Hydroelectricity

Wind Energy Wind energy is one of the cheapest sources of renewable energy. Wind turbines capture wind energy with their blades, the power output is proportionate to the wind speed cubed. Energy is then transferred to the power grid for usage. Small household turbines are beginning to appear on houses. (used to power small appliances)

E.g. Venus Bay, Victoria (Bunurong Coast)

Household turbines

Cons of wind energy: Concerns have been raised over the noise produced by rotator blades, the visual impacts and deaths of birds that fly into them.

Solar Energy Panels on the roofs of houses and businesses capture the suns energy to generate energy cleanly and quietly. Light energy is converted into electricity by transferring sunlight photon energy into electrical energy.

Cons of solar energy: they don’t produce energy all of the time (must be sunny), they are expensive, visual changes to the landscape, hazardous materials can be used, energy is required to manufacture and install them.

hydroelectricity Hydroelectricity uses the energy of flowing water to spin a turbine connected to a generator that produces electricity. Energy is transferred to the power grid. The energy output depends on the volume of water and height of the water above the turbine.

E.g. Snowy Hydro Scheme, Alpine Region, VIC/NSW

Cons of hydroelectricity: The reservoirs can often destroy areas of productive forest and wildlife habitat, slow natural water flows and block the movement of fish and other organisms.

Action two Landcare

We should know a fair bit about this already!

What is landcare? Landcare is a not-for-profit government program that facilitates a national network of private land owners and locally-based community groups who care for the natural resources of our country. Australia-wide there are now 4000 community groups. The Landcare movement strives to make a difference in caring for the environment, primarily through sustainable farming practices.

Actions by LandCare Improving our farmlands: Many primary producers are participants in Landcare. They make significant contributions to combating soil salinity and erosion through sound land management. Bringing back trees: Each year, Landcarer’s plant many millions of native trees, shrubs and grasses, both on private and public land.

Restoring wildlife habitats: Volunteers have provided protection for thousands of native species, including threatened and endangered flora and fauna.

Pros of Landcare: It is a fantastic program that engages the community and brings people together in conservation and has been responsible for improvements in the quality of outdoor environments throughout Australia. Cons of Landcare: Actions are a response to declining health of outdoor environments due to agriculture - not necessarily a solution to a sustainable future. Landcare relies on volunteers to take action. Landcare relies on Government allocating funding, this may not always be available, meaning a lack of resources available for land owners.

Case Study The ‘Prom Plains’ and ‘Fish Creek’ Landcare groups is a part of the ‘South Gippsland Landcare Network’. The group works with farmers on the Yanakie Isthmus at the entrance to Wilsons Promontory.

Actions taken Soil improvement: Landcare assists farmers at Yanakie to assess and improve soil quality through testing, in order to minimise erosion from grazing. Native species are planted as a part of this. Fencing off waterways: Cattle are excluded from waterways, in order to prevent stream bank erosion and improve water quality.