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Nature conservation is an essential element in the development of humans. The importance of nature conservation lies in the need to balance environmental concerns with economic development (Henle et al., 2012). In Australia, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is responsible for creating and managing protected areas. However, individual property owners also have a duty to protect their lands. The primary objectives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (2012) are to conserve a broad range of ecosystems, improve the ability of natural systems to cope with climate change and other sources of stress, and protect places of special value to people. The establishment and management of national parks help to conserve the ecosystem in Australia, but there are also other effective measures that can be taken to protect nature.
The Role of National Parks
National parks are important areas in Australia as they help to protect a wide array of plant and animal species. For instance, the Royal National Park and Gawarra State Conservation Area have one of the richest concentrations of plants (approximately 1000 species) (“Royal National Park,” 2006). They provide habitats for many birds, animals, butterflies, and reptiles. Parks are also places where people can have some rest and interact with nature. They promote recreation and tourism since individuals often go camping or have picnics in parks. As many people visit national parks every day, the earnings from tourism are considerable. For example, in some parks, tourists can ride horses and enjoy the beauty of nature. Horse parties vary in size from 5 to 30 people, and large groups are often part of a tour that may last a couple of days and involve camping (Newsome, Milewski, Phillips, & Annear, 2002). However, some individuals worry that horse riding leads to the destruction of the natural environment; therefore, to solve this problem, special tracks have been built. Moreover, transport infrastructure and the hotel industry have greatly expanded because tourists need transport and accommodation when they visit parks. For this reason, national parks help to boost the Australian economy. All in all, national parks protect nature and enable the country to earn revenue from tourism.
Other Ways of Conserving the Natural Environment
Apart from national parks, there are other ways of preserving biodiversity. Firstly, the government signs agreements with property owners on the protection of biodiversity and natural resources (Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council, 2010). These agreements cover co-managed parks, recreation parks, sanctuaries, etc (Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2012). Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most important sanctuaries in Australia (Guthrie, Hilmer, Algar, & Richards, 2011). Secondly, the country has recreational areas, forest reserves, and wilderness protection zones. For example, in the Kangaroo Hills Timber Reserve, forests regenerate naturally after logging (Meissner & Coppen, 2014). All these efforts are aimed at minimizing the destruction of the natural ecosystem.
A sound system of land tenure also helps to conserve the natural environment as it encourages people to use the land in a considerate manner, balancing their economic needs with environmental concerns. The northern part of Australia is a good example of an intact landscape managed under a range of land tenures, mainly low-intensity pastoralism that occupies 75% of the land area (Woinarski, Green, Fisher, Ensbey, & Mackey, 2013). The percentage of cleared land is 5%, while conservation reserves and indigenous lands occupy 6% and 5% of the area. Pastoral areas vary in size from 1,000 to 10,000 square kilometres and are used for raising beef cattle. Ranchers occasionally clear their lands and plant new grasses to make pastures fertile again (Woinarski et al., 2013). The northern part of Australia is also covered with forests which are dominated by E. tetrodonta and Eucalyptus miniata. These forestsoccupy 450,000 square kilometres of the land and are strictly protected (Woinarski et al., 2013).The Australian government takes different measures to protect the ecosystem, but property owners also realize the importance of environmental protection and do their best to preserve the biodiversity of the country. They understand that the prosperity of humanity is closely connected with the balance in the natural world.
My Position
Currently, the Australian government creates national parks and forest reserves to protect natural habitats for many plant and animal species. It also encourages private investors and property owners to conserve biodiversity on their lands. I think that all Australians should cooperate and do their best to preserve the beauty of their country. It is necessary to regularly plant new trees, control deforestation, and eliminate poaching. All these measures will help to protect Australian flora and fauna.
Conclusion
Nature conservation is an integral part of human development as it helps to minimize damage to the ecosystem. In Australia, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is responsible for the protection of the natural environment. Apart from establishing natural parks, it also cooperates with private property owners, encouraging them to conserve their lands and biodiversity. The Royal National Park is one of the hugest national parks which provides habitat for about 1000 plant species. This park also serves as a recreational area, attracting tourists from around the world. Moreover, to protect Australian beauty and biodiversity, the government has established forest reserves, sanctuaries, and wilderness protection areas. All in all, the creation of national parks and the involvement of private property owners in nature conservation are effective ways of protecting the natural environment.
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