Vegetation Clearance

This page contains the following section
	Human Impacts on Catchments • Resources

How has Post European native vegetation clearance led to degradation of the environment in both rural and urban settings? Consider salinity problems, soil erosion, deterioration of biodiversity, and sending species and ecosystems to extinction and near extinction.
How does the introduction of exotic plants alter natural processes in and around watercourses? Look at how they change the physical, biological and chemical parameters of waterways.
How do changes to one component of a catchment lead to effects in other parts? These interrelationships are complex and present significant management problems.
Why is there a rise in the costs of managing environments to replace ecosystem services provided by native vegetation?

Type	Description	Resources Covering the Topic
Easy	- Natural Advantage: A Blueprint for Sustainable Australia. - A comprehensive overview of sustainable development, including vegetation issues.	Australian Conservation Foundation http://www.acfonline.org.au/asp/pages/ publicationtyp.asp?IdPublicationTyp=7
	- A history and summary of vegetation in South Australia.	Atlas of South Australia http://www.atlas.sa.gov.au/Atlas1986/ 2ENVIRONMENT_RESOURCES/ 5VEGETATION.html
	- Land clearance for agriculture. - An overview of the main issues.	The Coastal Kit http://exwb01.nre.vic.gov.au/coasts/coastkit/ch2/ agric.htm
	- Land clearance for residential development. - An overview of the main issues.	The Coastal Kit http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/coasts/coastkit/ch2/ resident.htm
	- Deforestation in the Murray-Darling Basin and the environmental consequences. - Discusses revegetation and strategies to the improve situation.	National Museum of Australia http://www.nma.gov.au/education/ann/ game6info.htm
	- Land clearing remains the single biggest threat to biodiversity. - Lots of links to other Australian land clearing issues.	Community Biodiversity Network http://nccnsw.org.au/member/cbn/projects/ EducationCentre/hi_land.html
More Comprehensive	- Land clearing issues at a local, national and state level.	Australian Conservation Foundation http://www.acfonline.org.au/asp/pages/ intro.asp?idTopic=12
	- Land clearing across Qld and Australia. - Impacts on biodiversity and whole environment.	Qld Conservation Council http://www.qccqld.org.au/land_clearing/ background.htm
	- Remnant vegetation and its value.	NSW National Parks and Wildlife http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/wildlife/ savebsh1.htm
	- Sediment pollution. - The effects of widespread clearing. - PDF download.	Water and Rivers Commission WA http://www.wrc.wa.gov.au/public/WaterNotes/pdf/ 17.pdf