1. Effect on relationships with outdoor environments Increasing Population

2. Australia is a large country with a small population. In 2003 we had a population density of 2.5 people per square kilometre; by comparison, the figure for Japan was 338 people per square kilometre, for the United Kingdom 244 and for France 109. Of the world's developed countries, only Canada (3.2) and Iceland (2.8) have comparable population densities

4. 1800’s Nobody knows how many indigenous people lived here before European settlement: estimates range between 300,000 and 1.5 million. It is known, however, that their numbers declined significantly after the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. By 1887 there were probably about 3 million people, of mostly European origin, living in the colonies. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that the 1901 census counted 3,773,801 people. One hundred years later, in 2001, the national census tallied 18,972,350 people. The estimated Australian population mid-2004 was 20,111,300.

5. 1887

6. By 1850 the European population in Australia was 400,000 Australian environment was seen as providing opportunities for wealth creation by using the resources it provided. In and around 1850 it was realised that land and marine resources were great sources of wealth Gold, timber, coal, seal and whale products were soon targeted with little or no regard for the impact on the environment.

7. Land devastated by mining practices Areas cleared, earth was excavated, shafts were sunk and roads were built Towns became crowded, temporary settlements were constructed eg. Fernshaws reserve in Healesville Land was cleared for cropping, housing, grazing and mining without any restrictions Firewood was collected for heating and for fuel for the running of steam engines

8. Gold The gold rush brought huge environmental changes in the Australian landscape in a relatively small amount of time. Features of the land millions of years in the making were all but decimated in just a few decades. Prior to the 1850’s the Australian continent was relatively pristine – the Indigenous communities had lived in harmony with the land for centuries, and since European settlement had only been minorly disturbed. For the first time in the continent’s history, the advent of the gold rush disrupted and rapidly destroyed ecosystems, and put mounting pressure on the native flora and fauna. http://www.sbs.com.au/gold/story.html?storyid=124

10. After the Rush Once the gold rush was over deserted goldfields were environmental disaster zones with little or no vegetation and massive erosion scarring Native animals suffered with loss of habitat, competition with introduced animals and hunting. The majority of species extinctions in Australia occurred since European settlement Up until 1830 3 million Koala skins were exported to Europe! The environment started to look like the grazing lands of Europe

11. Development By 1880 the meat export business expanded and more land was given over to grazing In 1887 irrigation started along the Murray and more arid regions in the Mallee started to develop Orchards, market gardens and grain plantations. The dominant relationship with the land at this time was development and export orientated.

12. The growing Urban population began to seek nature experiences: scenery, fresh air, walking, picnicking and beach activities The Melbourne Amateur Walking and Touring Club was established in 1894 The Field Naturalist Group of Victoria was formed in 1880 and served as a leader and lobbyist for environmental preservation and conservation. Australia’s first national park, Royal National Park near Sydney, was declared in 1879 In Victoria Fern Tree Gully National Park was declared in 1882 and Tower Hill in 1892 http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/education/resource_kit/resour ces/PVERKsection12229.pdf http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/education/resource_kit/resour ces/PVERKsection12229.pdf

14. The human population at the global level has been growing exponentially over time The absolute number of humans has continued to increase, and the distribution of the population has changed, due to differing birth and death rates and the movement of people from one region to another. Australia's population also continues to increase. The three factors which have the greatest impact on the population of any nation are birth rate (fertility), international migration and death rate (mortality rate).

15. Fertility The total fertility rate (TFR) is the average number of children a woman gives birth to in her lifetime. A TFR of 2.1 is considered to be the replacement rate, which is the fertility rate needed to keep the population stable if there is no net migration. Australia's TFR in 2000 was 1.7. Most developed countries have TFRs below the replacement rate. The 2004 estimate of the world average TFR is 2.8, ranging from 1.2 to 8.

16. Immigration Immigration adds to the Australian population in two ways: firstly, the immigrants themselves; and secondly, their Australian-born children. The contribution of net overseas migration to Australia's population growth has averaged about 39 per cent for the past 25 years. This is projected to increase as the Australian fertility rate decreases. Immigration – one source of population growth – results in more people to consume goods and services. This larger market is better for local businesses. Also, many migrants bring money into the country and some start up businesses that may offer employment. Many economists argue that, if carefully controlled, this can benefit the nation’s economy and hence, indirectly, our quality of life.

17. Environmental scientists point out that Australia is already suffering considerable damage to its soils, waterways, coastal zones and natural habitats through intensive agriculture, urban expansion, industrial development and the ever- increasing demand for goods and services. Groups who oppose population increase on environmental grounds suggest that even the present Australian population cannot be indefinitely sustained at its present rate of consumption by the renewable resources of the continent.

18. Beach anyone?

19. Demographers can estimate Australia's future population size by using different levels of net immigration (ie, the total number of people settling permanently in Australia minus the total number of people leaving Australia permanently). For example, if the net immigration figure each year is 100,000 then Australia's population will be 26.4 million by 2051. If immigration had ceased in 2002, then Australia's population would decline to 19.8 million by 2051. (These predictions are based on the assumption of below replacement fertility among the resident population. This is when the number of babies being born is less than that required to replace the parents.)

20. Australia’s population carrying capacity: Tim Flannery says that Australia has : “the calculated a long-term carrying capacity of between 8 million and 12 million. We had that population in 1950 and 1968 respectively, not so long ago. The population is now over 22.5 million and increasing rapidly, currently at a rate of 1.7% increase per year”. http://candobetter.net/node/2318\

21. Other population pressures on our environment Population pressures on our environment come not only from a resident population, they also come from a global population, where there is demand for Australian- based production; overseas visitors to Australia, especially tourists but also business visitors, students and guest-workers. These numbers are many times that of immigrants

22. limits to growth Some economists have described humans as the 'ultimate resource', because they can turn previously useless things into resources by being intelligent, adaptable and creative. Much of what we value and what makes life enjoyable is the product of human endeavour. However, something good can become a problem when in excess – when there is 'too much of a good thing'.

23. Factors such as population growth, population distribution and migration combine with high-consumption patterns to put stresses on the environment. There is a limit to the environment in terms of supply of resources and the ability to absorb waste products. Examples include the rate of tree growth for timber harvesting, the available fresh water for irrigation and human consumption, and the time required for the recycling of organic waste. Land degradation, loss of forest cover, pollution of water and air, soil erosion and loss of biodiversity are all occurring at a fast pace, and are evidence of the impact of an increasing population on the environment.

24. Population and Environment The maximum number of a particular organism that an environment can maintain indefinitely is often referred to as its carrying capacity. How do we calculate the human carrying capacity of the Earth? We can't do it by numbers alone because the relationship between population and environment is neither simple nor straightforward. carrying capacity To come up with the best solution, insights and ideas need to be drawn from many disciplines. These include, but are not limited to, environmental science, geology, economics, demography, human biology and health, geography and political science. The future of both the global human population and the global environment relies on bridging disciplinary divides.

25. Monthly World population figures: 07/01/11 6,946,043,989 08/01/11 6,952,589,639 09/01/11 6,959,135,290 10/01/11 6,965,469,791 11/01/11 6,972,015,442 12/01/11 6,978,349,943 01/01/12 6,984,895,594 02/01/12 6,991,441,244 03/01/12 6,997,564,595 04/01/12 7,004,110,246 05/01/12 7,010,444,747 06/01/12 7,016,990,398 07/01/12 7,023,324,899

26. The human population of our planet, on current trends, doubles every 53 years!

27. Can we sustain our current population growth?

29. Key Source http://www.science.org.au/nova/087/087key.htm

30. Work Task 4 Complete the task!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!