Biodiversity is the incredible variety of living things and the
ecosystems needed for survival.
WE ARE ALL CONNECTED
The huge range of species on our planet is important because
different organisms help keep a healthy balance by cleaning
waterways, providing food and more. Living things depend on each
other in many ways like worms, who help to break down waste and
transform it into nutrients for plants. It's like dominos falling
if we upset the balance.
WHY DO WE NEED FORESTS?
✷ Forests are filters recycling carbon, oxygen and nitrogen
✷ Home to thousands of species
✷ natural wonder full of beauty
✷ Forests usually are in areas of high rainfall, chop them down
and higher risk of flooding
The most deforestation is occurring in the mighty Amazon
Rainforest (it covers almost half of South America) and
Indonesia.
Beaconsfield State School, Mackay
Ms Mifsud's clever class didn't delay to get stuck into several
projects. Their school has a Future Forest plot where trees are
planted to support wildlife and this class went and presented to
youth conferences to spread their ideas. They came up with a clever
memory trick and taught their school - LOFOACCO (Light off, fans
off, aircon, computers off) across school. Why don't you try
it!
PEOPLE EVERYWHERE
It hasn't taken long for Australia to go from thousands of
people to millions. Earth's population could be over 9 billion
people by 2050! How old will you be then? That's a lot of mouths to
feed.
Farmers have to keep producing more from less land. Breeding new
varieties of plants that provide more food from each crop and
developing new fertilizers are solutions.
However, pesticides to get rid of the bugs can be harmful to our
health and the wash off from fertilizer and pesticides encourages
algae to grow in our waterways which can poison other plants and
animals. It's a quandary!! Remember plants and animals need food
and water to grow too!
3 Reasons why we chop down native forests
1. Sell timber (we use more wood than ever and developing
countries sell the timber to pay off their debts)
2. Clear land for farming (sadly the forest soil isn't very
productive so farmers keep on clearing)
3. Easy and fast (with our chainsaws it is much faster to clear
than it is to plant)
Solutions
1. More laws to protect forests
2. More forestry plantations and recycling
3. Help farmers living near forests to earn living in new
ways
HELP
Find out more about rainforests and making sure that any wood
your family buys for building or to use in the garden is
FSC-certified which means the wood comes from sustainably managed
forests.
INVASIVE SPECIES
Some plants, animals and diseases have been brought from overseas
and have become pests here because of the impact they have on
native species. Can you name some? Why not become a WEED Buster and
make a chart of invasive plants?
(International Union for
Conservation of Nature)
RED ALERT
Extinction has always oc
curred naturally but
sadly, the rate is quickly increasing. Because of land clearing,
pollution, introduced species and other human impact Australia has
one of the highest numbers of endangered species in the world.
Here's how you can help:
❑ Find out about the species living in your area,
❑ Look after your local bush,
❑ Make sure your pets don't hurt birds and animals, 
❑ Put rubbish in the bin so it doesn't end up in the bush,
❑ You can also join a volunteer group that helps animals,
❑ Consider a career in science when you grow up.
Cane toads marching north
These tough toads were brought to Australia to control pest
beetles that were eating sugar cane in 1935.
They loved the conditions here so much and are so quick to breed
(they can lay up to 30 000 eggs) the toads have quickly multiplied
and spread. Find out why cane toads are such a problem.
OUR CRITICALLY ENDANGERED REPTILES
✷ Nangur Spiny Skink
✷ Western Swamp Tortoise
Is your pet green?
Small pets have less impact on the planet. Keeping animals is
great but what do they do when you aren't around? Some can hurt
native plants and animals. Cats often kill native birds and dogs
can hurt koalas. Keep your pet in at night or have fish! If you
find an injured animal call the RSPCA - they will help.
Green = Cat with bell collar
Greener = Ant Farm
Greenest = Pet rock or Plant
Economies of scale
Sounds fancy! When new technologies are first created they are
very expensive but as more people want to use the service or
product they go down in price.
This happened with computers and mobile phones.
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change forecast that
renewable energy could provide up to 70% of our energy by 2050.
As demand increases for these new technologies they will become
more affordable.
Palm oil - It's a no go
Palm oil typically costs the lives of up to 50 orangutans each
week.
The amazing Orangutan which lives in Indonesia and Malaysia
can't compete with farmers destroying their habitat to farm palm
oil. Palm oil is in lots of our food.
Check the label for these names and if you find them, think
twice before buying. If you want to help more:
www.palmoilaction.org.au
Sodium Laureth Sulphate (can also be from coconut);
Sodium Lauryl Sulphates (can also be from ricinus oil);
Sodium dodecyl Sulphate (SDS or NaDS);
Palmate;
Palm oil kernal;
Palmitate.
Find out what you can do: www.zoo.org.au/PalmOil
How to get your tuckshop green
1. Talk to your teachers about:
2. Selling local products
3. reducing plastic packaging
4. Composting food scraps
5. Growing veggies in a school garden
Be a nature kid!
When was the last time you explored in the wild or just
listened to the birds? Don't forget about the wonders that are
all around us - you don't have to go the bush. Just stop where you
are and look, listen and marvel at how incredible nature is!
Keep it clean
Get rid of rubbish that could hurt animals and bird.
