Queensland Murray-Darling Committee “Working together – healthy landscapes, viable communities” Land Cover Transformations Inala, Queensland 1950

Land cover in Australia has changed dramatically from pre-human times to today 2

What is our planet currently covered with? 3

Indigenous Land Management Evidence suggests that aboriginal people altered the landscapes in order to manage the land and make it more productive (e.g. clearing for more efficient hunting) 4 Aborigines using fire to hunt kangaroos by Joseph Lycett, approximately

The arrival of Europeans to Australia continues to have a huge impact on our natural environment 5

Vegetation Brigalow Land For Selection 1968 land sale (across the Brigalow Belt) 6 Queensland Government 1968 – from

Vegetation clearing in Queensland 7 Land Cover Change in Queensland : SLATS report

8 Land Cover Change in Queensland : SLATS report

Regional Ecosystem mapping - Toowoomba 9

Regional Ecosystem mapping - Toowoomba 10

Soils If we want to keep using our precious soil to grow food and pasture we need to look after them! 11

Soil chemistry and micro-ecosystems Nutrients are required to grow pasture and crops. 12 KPN

Soil chemistry and micro-ecosystems Unless we look after soils they will cease to produce healthy crops and pasture –companion planting, monitoring nutrient levels, suitable cover crop, erosion control 13

Erosion A variety of plants hold our soil in place Overstocking, clearing and a variety of cropping techniques can affect erosion 14

Soil degradation – ground cover Pasture and crop species should be carefully considered –The correct species for soil type will bring essential nutrients into the soil, keeping it healthy –Some plants like legumes are grown specifically to improve soil health 15 Qld Bluegrass pasture, Mitchell

Animal Biodiversity Endangered Northern hairy-nose wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii) 16 Extinct in the Wild Darling Downs hopping mouse (Notomys mordax) Vulnerable Richmond Birdwing Butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondia) Photo by Don Sands Photo by Qld Dept. of Environment and Heritage Protection

Ecosystem services Vegetation and soil ecosystems provide a great number of invaluable services to people and other wildlife 17

Ecosystem services 18 What can we do to maintain healthy ecosystems?

Biodiversity Can be directly related to vegetation loss –The loss of abundance of vegetation –The loss of types and variety of vegetation = Fewer places for animals to live 19

Biodiversity Land cover change affects biodiversity –Habitat Loss 20

Water Health Vegetation that lies adjacent to water bodies contributes greatly to water health of our catchments 21

Riparian zones 22 Riparian zones – vital for creek and river systems to function effectively (filtration, erosion control, at present vital habitat corridors etc.)

Some Global Issues with Land Cover Transformations Ice sheets Permafrost Sea surface temperatures 23

Ice sheets Image courtesy of the National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado, Boulder. 24

Ice sheets The Greenland ice sheet is gradually melting The Antarctic ice sheet is melting slowly in some areas but maintaining its size in other areas 25

Ice sheets Sea level rises are predicted with the loss of the ice sheets –If all Greenland sheet was to melt: 6m rise –If all of Antarctic sheet was to melt: 60m rise Negative feedback loops 26 Ice sheets melt Less sunlight is reflected by the smaller white sheets Temperature increases

Permafrost 27 Soil that stays at or below 0ºC for at least two consecutive years Found in locations relatively close to the north and south pole With global rising temperatures permafrost is more likely to melt

Permafrost Can cause structural damage Vegetation community relocation Releases carbon and methane into the atmosphere – negative feedback loop! 28

Sea Surface Temperature 29

Sea Surface Temperature 30

Sea Surface Temperature 31 An increase in sea surface temperature can affect sea levels, marine ecosystems and weather patterns

What can we do about land cover transformations? Reduce carbon emissions Protect agricultural and natural land Use appropriate land management techniques 32

What does QMDC do? NSW farm Work with land owners and managers to protect ground cover, soil, vegetation, biodiversity, and riparian zones.

References Planet Earth picture: From NASA Misty Blue Gums, Lettuce and Desert picture: From Pixaby Farm comparison pictures: From by David Marshhttp:// Clearing picture: From Queensland State Archives Land clearing picture: From Queensland History Atlas Regional Ecosystem maps generated at animals/plants/herbarium/mapping-ecosystems/ animals/plants/herbarium/mapping-ecosystems/ The Queensland Murray-Darling Committee 34

References Koala distribution map: From The Australian Koala Foundation Coral picture: From Coral Bay Ecotours, WA Ice sheet and permafrost information from the National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado, Boulder. Sea Surface Temperature information from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association 35

Contact information 36 Insert presentation date here Shelley Purser QMDC Education Officer Phone: (07)