Area of study 2-

Relationships with
Australian Outdoor
Environments since 1990
 3.2.1- Types of Interactions with
Outdoor Environments
There are four types of interactions:
o Recreation
o Conservation
o Primary industries
o Tourism practices

What are some examples?

 Did you get these?
• Guiding companies (surf schools, activity providers)
• outdoor education companies
• tourism/ecotourism companies
• logging companies
• mining and energy companies
• scientists (ecologists, biologists, botanists, archeologists)
• land managers (government departments, farmers, rangers)
• bushwalkers, climbers, canoeists, skiers
• Others?
 Questions to consider:
In relation to the different types of interactions, you need to be able to do the
following (make a note of these):
• Define the interaction (what type is it, who does it, why)
• What are examples of each of these types of interaction?
• How has that type of interaction changed over time?
• Are there now more or less people involved in that type of interaction? Why?
• Has there been an increase or decrease in the number of groups or activities
related to this type of interaction? Why?
• Has there been a change in the environmental impact of this type of interaction?
 Recreation
Definition: active and passive activities that are a diversion from day to day
routines- undertaken for fun, relaxation, enjoyment or fitness.

Examples: Surfing, Hiking, Fishing, Skiing, MTB riding, Canoeing, Rock

Climbing, Bird watching, Camping, others?
 Recreation- over time…
Indigenous Australians - learning skills, stories, walking, dancing and singing
Early European settlers - little recreation time - maybe walking, picnics
Growing population (gold rush to federation) - walking, horse riding, bird
watching, camping, picnics
Nation building- after the 1st world war, hiking driving, bird watching, sailing,
surfing, rock climbing, caving, camping, trekking, fishing, scuba diving, etc
Now (contemporary/since 1990) - snowboarding, mountain biking, kayaking,
base jumping, game fishing, jet skiing, motorbike riding...

Why have these interactions changed over time???

 Conservation

Definition: human efforts with the environment that aim to protect them from
potential or further damage- this can include restorative or preventative
measures.

Examples: Environment groups, creation of protected areas (National Parks),

Management plans/strategies, promotion of minimal impact strategies,
conservation laws, reduction in use of resources, reduction of waste and
pollution, education and awareness, development of environmentally friendly
energy sources, weed and feral animal eradication, others?
 Conservation- over time…
Indigenous Australians- areas for no hunting/gathering, only took what they needed, use of fire
for regeneration.
Early European settlers- introduced rules surrounding the use of vital resources (mainly
protecting water sources from pollution)
Growing population (goldrush to federation) – as above. Most conservation related to how
people wished to use the environment (mainly as a resource)
Industrialisation- late 1800‘s, national parks first became a possibility. Recognition of human
impacts starting to influence how environments are used.
Nation building- 1900's (since federation) - recognition of land degradation, environmental
awareness, environment groups formed, national parks formed, acts of parliament passed and
implemented, management strategies developed, use of resources limited
Now (contemporary/since 1990) - environmental groups such as The Wilderness Society and
the National Parks Association reflect a more politically based organisations aimed at
promoting conservation of natural environments. it becomes clear that the pattern of
conservation interaction with the natural environment has altered significantly within our
society.

Why have these interactions changed over time?

 Primary Industry

Definition: utilising the environment to grow, harvest and extract natural

resources for use by humans- can be used to generate wealth and contribute to
human wellbeing or survival.

Examples: Native timber industry, Mining for energy (gas, coal, oil), Mining for
minerals (metal ores), Agriculture, Aquaculture, Plantation timber, Fishing,
Water harvesting (dams/reservoirs), Desalination, others?
 Primary industry- over time…
Indigenous Australians- hunter/gatherer existence, managing and harvesting resources from
the environment for survival
Early European settlers- brought european farming practices and started land clearing and
resource harvesting
Growing population (goldrush to federation) - mining changes environments for ever, farming
increases in scale to feed population, timber harvesting increases to provide building resources,
Industrialisation- new machinery increases the capacity for these activities and therefore their
impacts
Nation building- mining scale greatly increased (one of our largest exports), agriculture: able to
produce more food than we need but large environmental impact, recognition of the need to
undertake many of these practices more sustainably
Now (contemporary/since 1990) - technological influences allowing past interactions to occur on
greatest scale ever, at the same time- these technologies are helping reduce our dependence on
some resources

Why have these interactions changed???

 Tourism practices
Definition: people traveling to visit environments away from their usual
surroundings- can involve recreational activities, and provides the opportunity
for commercially based recreation.

Examples: Bus tours, educational tours, sight seeing, cruises, variety of

accommodation (camping/glamping/hotels), experiencing local
culture/food/music, visiting sites of natural/historical significance, recreational
activities - golf, bird watching, walking, skiing, climbing, sailing, kayaking,
4wd, photography, others?
 Tourism practices- over time…
Indigenous Australians- no tourism, visited other tribes for trade, marriage,
ceremonies
Early European settlers- no tourism, travel was for commerce / new settlement and
trade
Growing population (goldrush to federation) - no tourism: see above
Industrialisation- late 1800's when income was sufficient to visit family and friends for
leisure, environments starting to influence the where people choose to travel (Alpine
areas for skiing)
Nation building- mostly domestic travel until the 1970's
Now (contemporary/since 1990) - increased domestic travel, large proportion of
international travel.

Why have these interactions changed???

 For assessment (SAC/exam):
• You need to be able to know a variety of examples of each type of interaction
with environments you have visited or are familiar with; i.e. examples of:
o Recreation
o Conservation Be able to support responses to these areas with examples
o Primary industry from The Australian Alps or Bogong High Plains
o Tourism practices

• Be able to compare and contrast relationships reflected in specific human

interactions, including:
o How the specific outdoor environment is being perceived
o Possible impacts on the outdoor environment
o Similarities and differences between various relationships