 Outdoor and Environmental Studies UNIT 4 TAYLORS LAKES SECONDARY COLLEGE OUTCOME 2b REVISION 2013

Outcome 2- Sustainable Outdoor Environments  In this area of study students focus on the sustainability of environments in order to support the future needs of ecosystems, individuals and society, and the skills needed to be an environmentally responsible citizen. Students investigate at least two case studies of conflicts of interest between people involved in uses of outdoor environments, and develop a clear understanding of the methods and processes commonly used to resolve these conflicts.

Key Knowledge Continued…  Management strategies and policies for achieving and maintaining healthy and sustainable outdoor environments that may be adopted by public and private land managers, including at least one from the following:  Trust for Nature (Victoria)  Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010–2020 (Australia)  Victoria’s Native Vegetation Management: A framework for action (Victoria)

Key Knowledge Continued…  At least two acts or conventions related to the management and sustainability of outdoor environments,  Including at least one from the following:  Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (Vic)  Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth)  Ramsar Convention (international treaty, 1971)

Key Knowledge Continued…  Actions undertaken to sustain healthy outdoor environments, including at least two of the following:  – green building design  – integrated farming  – urban planning  – renewable energy  – Landcare.

Key Skills  Plan for and reflect upon a range of practical sustainable outdoor experiences and analyse relevant information collected during these experiences  Explain the actions undertaken by individuals and groups with respect to conflicts over the use of outdoor environments  Analyse methods used by individuals and groups to influence decisions about the use of outdoor environments

Key Skills Continued…  Analyse specific management strategies and policies for maintaining outdoor environments.  Describe specific legislation and agreements related to managing and sustaining outdoor environments.  Analyse specific actions undertaken to sustain healthy outdoor environments.

Key Knowledge  At least two conflicts of interest between people involved in uses of outdoor environments, including at least one from the following:  Marine national parks and sanctuaries (Victoria)  Franklin River campaign (Tasmania)  Grazing in the Alpine National Park (Victoria)  Desalination plant at Wonthaggi (Victoria)

Key Knowledge  Management strategies and policies for achieving and maintaining healthy and sustainable outdoor environments that may be adopted by public and private land managers, including at least one from the following:  Trust for Nature (Victoria)  Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010–2020 (Australia)  Victoria’s Native Vegetation Management: A framework for action (Victoria)

Trust for Nature

Our vision: Within two decades, protecting native plants and wildlife on private land will be recognised and valued as a central part of mainstream Australian environmental practice. There will be a shared expectation and responsibility among communities, landowners and governments that significant natural areas on privately owned land should be conserved, just as national and state parks are protected.

Plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus) – a threatened bird species found in native grassland properties like the Trust’s Wanderers Plain.

What are we?  Trust for Nature is a not-for-profit organisation that works to protect native plants and wildlife in cooperation with private landowners.  The Trust was established under the Victorian Conservation Trust Act 1972 to enable people to contribute permanently to nature conservation by donating land or money.  We have since evolved into one of Victoria’s primary land conservation organisations, with several tools to help people protect biodiversity on private land.

Trust for Nature’s Spring into Nature event at Gobur, Goulburn Broken region. Photo: Trust for Nature

Covenants  In 1978 Trust for Nature was given the powers to enter into legal agreements with private landowners called conservation covenants to protect native plants and wildlife on their land.  These covenants remain in place even when the land changes hands.  So far, more than 47,000 hectares of private land is protected across Victoria through more than 1115 conservation covenants (as at January 2012).

Revolving Funds  The Revolving Fund is tool that uses the real estate market to achieve conservation outcomes.  We use funds from bequests, donations and government to buy land that supports threatened habitats.  We then place a conservation covenant over the properties and sell them on to people interested in conservation.  The proceeds of each sale go back into the Revolving Fund for future property purchases.

Victoria’s Native Vegetation Management: A framework for action (Victoria)  Protection and management of Victoria’s native vegetation.  Framework for action?  Main Goals/recommendations-  Active improvement of the quality of existing native vegetation;  avoidance or minimisation of further permanent losses through clearing;  Strategic increase in the cover of native vegetation through biodiverse revegetation  The flexibility that is required to support landholders as they move towards more sustainable land use.

Key Knowledge  At least two acts or conventions related to the management and sustainability of outdoor environments,  Including at least one from the following:  Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (Vic)  Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth)  Ramsar Convention (international treaty, 1971)

Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (Victoria)  The Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) is the key piece of Victorian legislation for the conservation of threatened species and communities and for the management of potentially threatening processes.

Ramsar Convention  International Treaty on the protection of wetlands around the world.  Three Pillars of the convention-  Wise Use  Ramsar List- includes more than 1900 wetlands called Ramsar Sites.  International Consultation in regards to matters concerning wetlands around the globe.

Key Knowledge  Actions undertaken to sustain healthy outdoor environments, including at least two of the following:  – green building design  – integrated farming  – urban planning  – renewable energy  – Landcare.

Green Building Design  Green Building design refers to how dwellings or commercial buildings are designed to be more environmentally responsible. Healthy outdoor environments are a consequence of green building in that resources, disturbance and ongoing demands should be minimised. There are five main principles to this environmental responsibility.  Sustainable site for the building.

Green Building Design Continued…  Minimising energy consumption through intelligent use of five simple passive design principles.  Minimising resource consumption through intelligent design and practices.  Maintaining and minimising water conservation and quality.  Developing a healthy indoor environment.  Real world example- BedZed

Renewable Energy  Renewable energy is energy that comes from natural resources such as wind (wind farms), sunlight (solar panels), rain (hydroelectricity), tidal/wave and geothermal heat. So in other words it is energy that is naturally replenished and energy that can be accessed on a ‘day to day’ basis depending on the season which makes it more sustainable.  Unlike fossil fuels which are not renewable and add to the effects of climate change.

Renewable Energy Continued…  Renewable energy is a very high priority on the Australian government’s list as it plays a strong role in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions which helps us meet our Kyoto target (and beyond), thus improving the state of our highly valued outdoor environments.  Only 8% of Australia’s electricity is generated from renewable energy or ‘green power’ which means 92% of our electricity used is generated from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal. This means Australia as a country is a huge contributor to the amount of greenhouse gas being released into the already fragile environment.  There are several legislations and procedures that governments have to comply with in terms renewable energy which are also important to note as they are the key to sustaining healthy outdoor environments, these include the The Victorian Renewable Energy Act 2006 and the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Act 2007.

Renewable Energy Continued…  Advantages of renewable energy which help sustain our outdoor environments/reduce effects of climate change include:  Renewable = sustainable  Facilities generally require less maintenance = reduces cost and energy of operation  Very little waste products such as carbon dioxide and other harmful pollutants  Economic benefits to rural and regional settings  Increased employment in rural and regional settings

Landcare  ‘Landcare’ is an organisation that is made up of several community groups within Australia. The sole goal of these community groups is to sustain and improve the state our natural environments/resources for future generations.  Landcare understands the importance of the state our natural environments are in so they do all that they can to preserve this. There are more than 4000 Landcare groups and 2000 Coastcare groups’ across the country, these groups are made of volunteers and employers. Landcare was formed by the Commonwealth government in 1990 as a non-profit organisation and is still managed by the government today.

Landcare  Landcare was introduced as the government become aware that environmental protection was very important for sustainability and there needed to be something done to create awareness and support for maintaining the health of Australia’s environment as most individuals value what it has to offer.  Landcare groups participate in a number of projects which improve and manage the effects of erosion and salinity levels within our farmlands, improve the quality of our waterways, improve our fragile coastlines through vegetation projects and pest control, restore our wildlife habitats and they also improve our urban environment through clean up days and park management.