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Essay / Overview of Environmental Issues Facing Australia
Table of ContentsIntroduction of AustraliaEnvironmental Issues Facing Australia Climate Change ConservationLand Degradation Land Clearing Salinity and Water Issues UrbanizationGlobal Warming Bushfires Adapted Solutions by Australia's Environmental Problems My Suggestions to Solve the Problems Conclusion ReferencesIntroduction of AustraliaAustralia is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Australia is the largest country in Oceania and the 6th largest country in the world in terms of total area. Australia is highly urbanized and heavily concentrated on the east coast. The country's population of 25 million. Sydney is the largest city in Australia. The country earns its revenue from various sources, such as exports related to mining, telecommunications, manufacturing, and the banking sector. Australia is a highly developed country and has the 13th largest economy in the world. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Australia has one of the most different and beautiful environments in the world. There are currently fourteen World Heritage Sites in Australia. Central Australia has a drier climate and Northern Australia experiences some tropical cyclones. Agriculture and mining are the main land uses in Australia. Environmental problems faced by Australia We can see the different environmental problems faced by Australia. Most human activities cause these problems, such as human land use activities and economic activities. These environmental issues are climate change, conservation, land degradation, global warming, water use, urbanization, salinity and water problems, bushfires, overfishing and illegal fishing, etc. Climate Change Climate change occurs naturally or results from human activities. We can identify that Australia is most exposed to climate change risks. Australia's ecosystem is one of the reasons for climate change. Rising temperatures in Australia and the increasing frequency of bushfires, droughts and floods are the most highlighted key points of the country's climate. All of this has been combined with climate change. Water sources in Australia's southeastern regions have declined due to population increases in urban areas associated with climate change, such as prolonged and persistent drought. The type of precipitation is expected to be problematic, as rains have become heavier and less frequent, and more frequent in summer than in winter. ConservationAustralia is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world. Preserving biodiversity is the main conservation issue in Australia, including protecting remaining rainforests. Destruction from human activities, including land clearing, remains the leading cause of biodiversity loss in Australia. The forestry, fisheries and agriculture sectors mainly contribute to biodiversity loss in the country, due to the intensification of resource use in these sectors. Most humans live in coastal and marine areas. These human and agricultural activities lead to a reduction in water quality. Consequently, the coastal and marine environment has decreased biodiversity in Australia. Land degradation in Australia primarily concerns land use foragricultural sector. Land degradation is Australia's number one environmental problem. Land degradation harms wildlife habitat and inland water quality. Natural acidity and salinity cause land degradation. Most of the factors that influence land degradation are related to water erosion, clearing of native vegetation, soil erosion, certain artificial air currents, wind erosion, salinity of floors, etc. Australia is continuing clear-cutting of old-growth forests in some parts. This often involves replacing plantations with monocultures and destroying natural ecosystems. Land Clearing Land clearing for the agricultural sector has led to significant loss of native forests and forests in Australia. Most land clearing has taken place since 1980. It destroys ecosystems, threatens biodiversity and can cause land degradation leading to salinity and loss of water quality. Salinity and water issues Water and salinity degradation are major concerns during land clearing. Before European settlement and land clearing, trees and vegetation absorbed rainfall by retaining salt at a manageable level. Over time, with the loss of vegetation, the amount of water flowing into groundwater increases, which can mobilize salts stored in the soil. Salinity mainly affects loss of productivity and income, agricultural crops, birds, fish and other wildlife that rely on rivers and wetlands as vital water reserves. This can affect urban areas, including damaging housing, water pipes, infrastructure, roads and railways. UrbanizationAustralia is one of the most urbanized countries in the world. The majority of Australian cities are characterized by unsustainable urban sprawl and have a large urban footprint. This imposes a demand for services and infrastructure which contributes to the problems of emissions linked to transport, land clearing, pollution, energy consumption, automobile dependency, invasive species and islands of urban heat. Urbanization continues to increase at a rapid rate in most Australian cities. In particular, state capitals are metropolises. Increase the rate of population growth in most Australian cities, as migration contrasts with Australia's birth rate and fertility rate. Global warming Global warming is caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Global warming has a more negative impact on the economy, environment and communities. The agricultural sector is particularly affected by global warming. This mainly affects the ecosystem due to increase in temperature, increase in fire threats, pest invasions, droughts, salt invasion, etc. Global warming changes precipitation patterns, increases droughts, increases floods, and this also mainly affects farmers, such as reducing available food. . Global warming affects human health, increases heat waves and can lead to death and illness. Bushfires Bushfires are common problems during the warmer months of the year, as Australia's climate is the hottest and driest. These fires affect large areas. Additionally, it can cause property damage and loss of life. Some of the most intense, widespread and largest fires.