land degradation
Land degradation in Australia is a very serious and difficult environmental problem, as Australia is dependent on agricultural practices. (See land use in Australia.) Urban sprawl, land pollution, salinisation, and soil erosion may cause Land degradation after land clearing, or waterlogging through changes to the water table. Deforestation is a major issue that dramatically affects the land quality in Australia, as much of the native vegetation is replaced with insufficient ground cover used for various uses. One of the possible solutions could be to use genetically modified foods.Deforestation has been occurring for thousands of years. The lands used for cultivating crops worldwide were once forests. Humans have logged trees for a number of reasons, which include the need for timber, and space for agriculture, towns and cities. Though as it is a long-term effect it is very hard to reverse. This is because many environmental factors are caused over long periods of time, and then, once identified, will take a long time to solve. Urban sprawl is when cities expand from overpopulation and join adjacent towns and suburbs. The main problem associated with urbanisation is how most urban areas cannot support themselves. They only s
(1990) Working together for landcare, University of Qld and Qld Department of Primary Industries, Australian Academic Press, Brisbane ECI Land Degradation and Rehabilitation Programme, http://www. ) Most urban areas have very little natural vegetation to absorb the air pollution, and to give out fresh oxygen; this isn't a good thing, as these areas produce large quantities of air pollution, water pollution, and solid wastes. Any chemical, biological, or physical change in water quality that has a harmful effect on living orgasms is called water pollution. More than half of Australia's farmland requires treatment for land degradation and it is costing the economy well over $600 million a year in lost production alone. This relative new technology is speeding up the process of the way that genes of plants and animals are crossbred to benefit humans, although we don't know very much about the complications and possible risks. Genetically modified tomatoes or maize have the benefit of costing less money and also reducing the amount of pesticides used. It started with the crops of soybean and maize, though when the first genetically engineered produce was sold, it was not labelled, so the consumers weren't to know what they were buying. This corresponds with a quote from an Indian chief- Seattle 1854 who said" This we knowThe earth does not belong to manMan belongs to the earthAll things are connectedLike the blood that unites one familyMan did not weave the web of lifeHe is merely a strand in itWhatever he does to the web He does to himself. urvive by importing food, water, energy, minerals and other resources whilst polluting enormous quantities of waste products that are produced. This also reduces the stress on wildlife habitats, and therefore helps to preserve biodiversity.
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