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INSTITUTE FOR LAND, WATER & SOCIETY
Where we live threatens native animals The attractiveness of Australia’s eastern seaboard as a place to live isn’t confined to the majority of Australians. A leading CSU ecologist says the majority of native fauna species also call the east coast home, prompting him to call for major changes in future suburban and conservation planning to ensure more harmonious relations between man and native animals. “Animals aren’t distributed evenly across the landscape: for example, deserts have relatively few animal species, while tropical rainforests are abundant in wildlife. What is crucial for conservation management in Australia is the issue that where we find lots of species we also find lots of people,” said Dr Gary Luck, from Charles Sturt University’s Johnstone Centre for Natural Resources and Society. “Activities associated with human settlements, such as land clearing, waste disposal and pollution, threaten the survival of many native species in Australia and around the world. This threat is magnified if we want to live where most of our species do.”
CSU ecologist Dr Gary Luck considers how humans and native animals can live side-by-side in Australia. To study how human settlement affects wildlife population, Dr Luck was joined by US-based researchers Dr Taylor Ricketts from the World Wildlife Fund, Dr Gretchen Daily from Stanford University and Marc Imhoff from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in an 18-month study. They have shown that in Australia and North America, human population density was highest in areas that contained the most birds, mammals, reptiles, frogs and butterflies.
According to Dr Luck and fellow author's research, concentrations of Australia's human populations [current image to left] closely coincide with concentrations of native animal biodiversity [place mouse over map] - in both maps, the darker the coloured squares, the great the density in those squares. Early European settlers in Australia were attracted to regions with fertile soils and easy water access, features that also attract and support many native animal species. Early settlements have grown into major cities and towns, with dire consequences for native species. The study raised two important issues for future conservation strategies. “First, we need to plan our future suburbs more carefully than we do at present. If we continue to expand along Australia’s eastern seaboard, as we have in the past, we must look at how people and native species can co-exist in the formerly undeveloped areas, or we will place even greater pressure on diminishing native animal populations,” Dr Luck said. “Our study found that species can still be conserved and conservation goals met, while avoiding areas of high human population density, if the effects of human settlement patterns on native animals are addressed and highlighted early in the land planning process. Investments in land used for conservation need to be made early, before human population growth in developing regions drives up land prices.” Early European settlers in Australia were attracted to regions with fertile soils and easy water access, features that also attract and support many native animal species. Early settlements have grown into major cities and towns, with dire consequences for native species. The study raised two important issues for future conservation strategies. “First, we need to plan our future suburbs more carefully than we do at present. If we continue to expand along Australia’s eastern seaboard, as we have in the past, we must look at how people and native species can co-exist in the formerly undeveloped areas, or we will place even greater pressure on diminishing native animal populations,” Dr Luck said. “Our study found that species can still be conserved and conservation goals met, while avoiding areas of high human population density, if the effects of human settlement patterns on native animals are addressed and highlighted early in the land planning process. Investments in land used for conservation need to be made early, before human population growth in developing regions drives up land prices.” Dr Luck contemplates the planning coordination required to help native biodiversity coexist with humans in Australia. ends Author: Wes Ward
Editor's Note: The study, “Alleviating Spatial Conflict between People and Biodiversity”, was published online and in print in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) in January 2004. The Johnstone Centre for Natural Resources and Society is a multi disciplinary research centre that focuses on biodiversity conservation, land management, eco-tourism, recreation and heritage issues. Related Images:  |
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