Hastings Point
In recent times, it has become increasing clear that economic development and population growth are resulting in expeditious changes in natural ecosystems, globally, and particularly on the self-sufficient ecosystems of Hastings Point. In acknowledgment of this, the United Nations’ Kofi Annan presented a report: “We the Peoples: The Role of the United Nations in the 21st Century.” (2000) Annan called for Millennium Ecosystem Assessment in order to establish the consequences of change in ecosystems for the well-being of humans, and to specify the importance of conservation actions needed to enhance the sustainable use of services supporting various aspects of human life (2000) (Alberti, 2005). Findings from the report and recent studies situated
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As ecosystems are the life-support systems for human species and other forms of life, further urban development of Hastings Point will be resultant in the fragmentation, isolation and degradation of natural habitats and modifications of hydrological, energy and nutrient systems, and therefore, should not be …show more content…
As a result of natural or anthropogenic actions, habitat may be lost and degraded (Adrian, 2015). In turn, this causes changes in bio-diversity, the variation of life on earth and the interactions between these organisms, and accordingly, the cessation of ecosystem services (World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF), 2015). Hastings’ Point is a biodiversity hotspot, and home to various threatened and endangered ecological communities (Department of the Environment , 2015). Although highly regulated in NSW, the clearing of all types of vegetation has placed Australia in the top ten land clearing nations in the world. In the past, between the years of 1984 and 1989, the Western Lands Commission allowed clearing licenses for over 560,000 hectares along the NSW Coast, particularly the Hastings Point (Figure. 1) (Department of Primary Industries, 2015) (Evans, 2015). This clearing increases sedimentation of waterways, erosion and lowers the quality of water in that of estuaries and ocean areas (NSW Government , 2015). Additionally, impoundments trap sediment eroded from upstream regions, resulting in potential downstream erosion, thus, stream bed depressing, and reducing habitat variability downstream (NSW Government , 2015). Consequently, this leads to the direct loss of native
As ecosystems are the life-support systems for human species and other forms of life, further urban development of Hastings Point will be resultant in the fragmentation, isolation and degradation of natural habitats and modifications of hydrological, energy and nutrient systems, and therefore, should not be …show more content…
As a result of natural or anthropogenic actions, habitat may be lost and degraded (Adrian, 2015). In turn, this causes changes in bio-diversity, the variation of life on earth and the interactions between these organisms, and accordingly, the cessation of ecosystem services (World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF), 2015). Hastings’ Point is a biodiversity hotspot, and home to various threatened and endangered ecological communities (Department of the Environment , 2015). Although highly regulated in NSW, the clearing of all types of vegetation has placed Australia in the top ten land clearing nations in the world. In the past, between the years of 1984 and 1989, the Western Lands Commission allowed clearing licenses for over 560,000 hectares along the NSW Coast, particularly the Hastings Point (Figure. 1) (Department of Primary Industries, 2015) (Evans, 2015). This clearing increases sedimentation of waterways, erosion and lowers the quality of water in that of estuaries and ocean areas (NSW Government , 2015). Additionally, impoundments trap sediment eroded from upstream regions, resulting in potential downstream erosion, thus, stream bed depressing, and reducing habitat variability downstream (NSW Government , 2015). Consequently, this leads to the direct loss of native