Impact of conservation, commercial and recreational activities on Outdoor Environments

Question 1

Conservation

Answer 1

The preservation,
protection,
management or
restoration of the
natural environment,
inclusive of
ecosystems,
vegetation, wildlife
and natural
resources, such as
soil and water

Question 2

Positive Impacts of conservation

Answer 2

vegetation modification due to controlled burning (that is, the prevention of larger fires through
the deliberate burning of fire breaks)
* land clearing due to conservation infrastructure (e.g. walkways, composting toilets)
* environmental intrusion due to the creation of permanent structures in natural areas (e.g. fences,
viewing platforms)
* incidental disruption of habitats.

Question 3

Commercial activities

Answer 3

Commercial activities are those that result in a profit or financial gain for an individual or group as a
result of utilising the natural environment. They can also be inclusive of large-scale operations that are
commonly referred to as industrial activities.

Question 4

non renewable

Answer 4

A resource that
does not renew
itself at a sufficient
rate for sustainable
economic extraction
in meaningful
human timeframes

Question 5

Impacts forestry and timber harvesting (commercial activites)

Answer 5

Positive impacts of forestry include:
* renewable resource of timber due to sustainable timber harvesting schemes where trees are
continually replanted
* reduction in pollution due to local timber harvesting and reduced transport needs.
Negative impacts of forestry include:
* large-scale land clearing due to clear felling
* habitat fragmentation due to removal of live trees, dead/fallen timber and truck routes being built
* species endangerment and reduction in biodiversity
* poisons entering food webs and waterways due to pesticide and herbicide use
* salinity issues due to rising water table
* topsoil disturbance and gully erosion
* soil compaction and loss of leaf litter
* introduction of weed species and diseases.

Question 6

Impacts of mining (commercial activites)

Answer 6

Positive impacts of mining include:
* reclamation of natural environments due to
mine rehabilitation programs.
Negative impacts of mining include:
* soil disturbance and timber clearing due to
total removal of vegetation and soil
* loss of biodiversity and species
endangerment due to loss of habitats
* introduction of weed species and diseases
due to deforestation and machinery use
* atmospheric pollution and increased
greenhouse gas emissions
* soil and water pollution due to chemicals
leaching into soils
* disturbance of marine life due to
underwater testing and drilling
* extraction of fossil fuels from inaccessible
and possibly inappropriate locations, such as
the Great Barrier Reef.

Question 7

Impacts of farming and agriculture (commercial activities)

Answer 7

Positive impacts of farming include:
* prevention of erosion and soil retention due to utilisation of recycled waste water on crops.
Negative impacts of farming include:
* loss of vegetation and topsoil due to land clearing
* salinity issues due to rising water table
* decline in biodiversity due to land clearing and loss of habitats
* erosion of creek beds and loss of nutrients in soil due to movement of hard-hooved animals
* degradation of soil nutrient values
* decline in water quality due to fertiliser use
* introduction of weed species and diseases.

Question 8

Impacts of development and urbanisation(commercial activites)

Answer 8

Positive impacts of development and urbanisation include:
* preservation of important habitats due to the parks and reserves system.
Negative impacts of development and urbanisation include:
* fragmentation of habitats due to transport routes
* decline in biodiversity due to land clearing
* introduced weeds and feral animals
* soil compaction and erosion
* air pollution
* contamination of watercourses and oceans due to stormwater drainage, sewage outfall and
industrial waste disposal
* unstable nutrient levels and soil contamination due to detergents, fertilisers, insecticides,
pesticides and animal faeces.

Question 8

Recreational actvites

Answer 8

Recreational activities may be undertaken via
two ways:
* nature-based – focuses on the person being
involved with the natural environment
* adventure-based – the user focuses on the
activity as opposed to the setting itself.

Question 9

impacts of recreational activites (commercial)

Answer 9

Negative impacts as a result of bushwalking, hiking and camping could include:
* introduction of weed species
* fire scars, depletion of firewood and damage to vegetation due to campfires
* soil compaction and erosion due to repeated treading and tent pitching
* pollution from inappropriate toileting and rubbish disposal methods
* wildlife dependency on humans due to feeding fauna
* disruption of wildlife due to domestic animals and increased noise levels
* decreased biodiversity levels due to habitat loss
* landscape degradation due to construction of visitor facilities.
Negative impacts as a result of recreational vehicles (trail bikes and four-wheel drives) could include:
* damage to trees due to vehicle extraction methods
* pollution of watercourses due to increased runoff from tracks and inappropriate toileting and
rubbish disposal methods
* soil compaction, erosion and track rutting due to repeated tracking
* track braiding due to drivers seeking new routes around boggy or unnegotiable areas.
Negative impacts as a result of alpine skiing (downhill and cross-country) could include:
* landscape degradation due to construction of roads and ski-resort facilities
* loss of biodiversity and species endangerment due to loss of habitats
* land clearing due to construction of ski runs
* trampling of exposed vegetation
* pollution from inappropriate toileting and rubbish disposal methods (particularly during summer
months when litter and faeces are exposed).
Negative impacts as a result of rock climbing could include:
* invasion of natural environment due to permanent fixtures such as bolts, belay points and ladders
* removal of vegetation, such as moss, along climbing routes
* pollution from inappropriate toileting and rubbish disposal methods
* soil compaction and erosion due to repeated trampling at the base of popular climbs
* defacing of rock surfaces due to chipping, smoothing, cementing and chalk residue