Range of impacts on contrasting outdoor environments
This is the term for any effect, positive or negative, that people or natural events have on an environment.
What is an impact?
An impact that is the immediate, obvious result of using a technology is known as this type of impact.
What is a direct impact?
The growth of towns and cities as populations increase and natural land is converted to built-up areas is called this.
What is urbanisation?
This Victorian Act is the main legislation for conserving threatened species and ecological communities in the state.
What is the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988?
A planned action designed to reduce negative impacts and protect an environment is called this.
What is a management strategy?
Name two human-induced impacts that can occur in an alpine environment.
Any two of: trampling and erosion of fragile vegetation, introduced species (e.g. feral horses), infrastructure and ski resort development, pollution or waste, and climate change reducing snow cover
Name two direct impacts of 4WD vehicles on a beach or bush track.
Any two of: soil compaction, erosion and track widening, damage to vegetation, noise disturbance to wildlife, fuel and oil pollution, and killing of wildlife.
Name two ways urban sprawl affects nearby natural environments.
Any two of: habitat loss and fragmentation, stormwater runoff and pollution, introduced weeds and pest species, loss of green corridors, and increased noise and light.
A species that faces a high risk of extinction is described as this. Name one category used to classify it.
What is a threatened species? Categories include vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered.
Name two strategies land managers use to reduce visitor impact on a popular national park.
Any two of: track hardening or boardwalks, signage and education, track or area closures, permits and camping limits, rangers and patrols, and booking systems.
Bushwalking can cause very different levels of impact in a coastal dune system than in a temperate rainforest. Give one reason why.
Environments differ in soil type, vegetation fragility, rainfall and how fast they recover. Dune vegetation is easily damaged and exposes loose sand to erosion, while rainforest may recover faster but is more vulnerable to weeds and disease spread (e.g. root rot).
Social media and GPS apps promote a once-remote lookout. Describe one indirect impact this could have.
Increased visitor numbers lead to overcrowding, track erosion, litter and toilet waste, pressure on carparks, and eventually the need for new infrastructure, none of which were caused by the technology directly.
Explain why stormwater runoff from urban areas can harm a river such as the Yarra.
Impervious surfaces (roads, roofs) stop water soaking in, so water flows faster and carries pollutants (litter, oil, nutrients, sediment) into waterways. This causes erosion, algal blooms, loss of aquatic species and poor water quality.
This term describes a group of native plants, animals and microorganisms that naturally occur together in a particular habitat.
What is an ecological community? (e.g. Grassy Eucalypt Woodland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain)
Name one criterion you could use to judge how effective a management strategy is.
Any of: whether the impact has reduced (monitoring data), cost, long-term sustainability, community or visitor support, ease of enforcement, and the range of impacts addressed.
Identify one ecological impact and one economic impact of increased tourism on a coastal environment
Ecological: disturbance to nesting shorebirds, dune damage, litter, or water pollution. Economic: increased income for local businesses and jobs, but also higher management and maintenance costs.
Compare the direct and indirect impacts of snow-making technology on an alpine environment.
Direct: water extraction from streams and storage dams, high energy use, and altered snow melt and vegetation cycles. Indirect: a longer season and more visitors, more infrastructure and traffic, and increased pressure on habitat and downstream water quality.
Predict one likely impact of continued population growth on a bushland area on the edge of Melbourne over the next 20 years.
For example: more housing means a loss of habitat and wildlife corridors, more domestic cats and dogs, more weeds, more visitors, and higher bushfire-management pressure.
Describe the purpose of an Action Statement or conservation plan for a threatened species in Victoria.
It sets out the threats to a listed species or community and the actions needed to protect and recover it, including who is responsible for each action.
Evaluate one strength and one weakness of closing a track to allow vegetation to recover.
Strength: stops direct damage and allows recovery (clear, enforceable). Weakness: moves use to other tracks, reduces access and opportunities, and may cause frustration or illegal use. Marks for a judgement as well.
Evaluate which of two contrasting environments you have studied (e.g. alpine vs. marine) is more vulnerable to recreational impacts. Justify your judgement.
For example: alpine areas are more vulnerable because short growing seasons mean vegetation recovers very slowly after trampling, while marine areas may recover faster but are harder to monitor and manage.
Choose one technology used in outdoor recreation (e.g. drones, e-bikes, GPS, camping gear). Compare its direct and indirect impacts on an outdoor environment.
For e-bikes: directly, track erosion and wildlife disturbance from speed. Indirectly, easier access allows more people into remote areas, which leads to more pressure and conflict between user groups.
Discuss how urbanisation might affect both the ecology of an outdoor environment and people’s opportunities to experience it.
Look for both sides. Ecological: habitat loss, fragmentation, pollution, species decline. Human: less accessible natural space, crowding of remaining areas, a “nature deficit” in communities, but also possible benefits such as parks and greenways. The best answers include a prediction and justify it.
Describe one local environmental policy that supports the management of a threatened species or ecological community.
Look for the policy’s name and level of government, its purpose, the species or community it protects, key actions or requirements (e.g. habitat protection, pest control, monitoring), and the agencies responsible (e.g. DEECA, Parks Victoria, local councils).
Evaluate the overall effectiveness of one management strategy used in an outdoor environment you have studied. Suggest one improvement.
- named strategy and environment, evidence (e.g. monitoring data, visual changes, visitor behaviour), use of criteria, a clear judgement about effectiveness, and a realistic improvement (e.g. more education, ongoing monitoring, adaptive management).