A biodiversity hotspot in a biogeographical region that is a huge area of biodiversity and is significantly threatened by destruction. “There are 25 biologically rich areas all around the world that have lose over 70 percent of their habitat.”(Anup Global Issues). Biodiversity is important because it helps to boost the ecosystem. No matter how small, every last bit of biodiversity is important and needs to be preserved. my group chose the Southwest Australia hotspot. Southwest Australia is classified as a biodiversity hotspot because it occupies about 356,717 Square kilometers on the south western tip of Australia. Australia occupies the botanical Province, which is one of the five Mediterranean.
Environmental degradation has impacted genetic and diversity of the hotspot. and this is caused mainly by invasive species, unsustainable use and management of natural resources, changes to the aquatic environment and water flows, changing regimes, and climate change. Due to this Australia is experiencing dry land salinity, erosion and vegetation. Approximately 1 million hectares, of Southwest Australia is affected by dryland salinity and that is predicted to rise by 5.4 million hectares 2050.
In Southwest Australia there are a lot of threatened, endangered, and critical species of plants and animals that are in the biodiversity hotspot of Southwestern Australia. Overall there are over 1,500 types of plant species which are found nowhere else in the world in the Southwest tip of Australia alone. “There are also twelve species of mammals, ten species of birds, twenty seven reptile species, and twenty two species of frogs. Sadly a lot of these animal and plant species are threatened by the environment around.”(WWF).
Southwestern Australia’s degraded ecosystems are being degraded at an alarming rate, the plan to fix this rising issue is that Australia is reviewing the first five years of Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy. This plan was set in place so they could potentially help conserve the biodiversity in Southwest Australia. This plan is a national framework guiding the biodiversity conservation policies as well as programmes of commonwealth, and state territories, so Australia’s biodiversity is healthy and can withstand threats, and so it can be valued and noticed for all of the good that it is contributing to not only the environment, but the world. “Australia’s first review of the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy will begin in 2015.”(The Encyclopedia Of Earth).
“Western Australia’s economy is a state economy is led by the exportation of iron-ore, gold, liquefied natural gas, and agriculture products such as wheat.”( Western Australia is the fourth most populous state in the nation. In 2011, Western Australia contributed about 46 percent of Australia’s exports. “Due to this Western Australia’s gross state product (GDP) was 193 billion from 2010 to 2011, making it the nation’s most productive state. That’s a GSP of 82,653 per capita compared to the nation average which was 57,925.”(Economy of Western Australia). If Western Australia were to be a separate country it would be in the top 50 economies in the world by its GDP.
“Some types of environmental degradation that Southwest Australia has been impacted by is, human incursions and competition for resources, fragmentation, agricultural impact, mining and quarrying, unsustainable recreation, land clearing for urbanization, introduction of plants and animals, and native species.”(Australian Government Department of the Environment). All of these things are bringing Southwestern Australia's economy and environment down. If Southwest Australia keeps this up and doesn't put an end to it the chances of a rapid decline of this hotspot is extremely high, and if that happens the economy will be completely destroyed.
“The degradation of Southwest Australia is being caused by, regional culture, political, and economic influences.”(Under Threat). All of these are contributing to the degradation of Southwest Australia in their own harmful way. One of the ways that the regional culture is degrading the environment is simply by the population growth, which rises ongoing the fight for resources. Also the economic influences is degrading the environment by making everyone want to buy the resources, which means more resources are being destroyed for profit, which more and more of is getting destroyed due to the rising populations within Southwestern Australia.
Environmental degradation has affected Southwest Australia’s functional diversity as well as the ecosystems process of the hotspot due to the scarce competition of resources. “Southwestern Australia’s demand for resources was so high that it’s estimates that 93% of the original vegetation in the Wheatbelt, and 80% of the Swan Coastal Plain has been completely cleared out. “(Southwest Australia Ecoregion Initiative).This is causing huge environmental as well as economic problems with Southwest Australia. This is going to need to stop and soon if we really want to conserve Australia’s biodiversity hotspots.
Environmental degradation has impacted genetic and diversity of the hotspot. and this is caused mainly by invasive species, unsustainable use and management of natural recourses, changes to the aquatic environment and water flows, changing regimes, and climate change. Due to this Australia is experiencing dry land salinity, erosion and vegetation. Approximately 1 million hectares, of Southwest Australia is affected by dryland salinity and that is predicted to rise by 5.4 million hectares 2050.
Overall, the Southwest Australia Biodiversity Hotspot has been impacted by depletion of resources, fragmentation, agricultural impact, mining, unsustainable recreation, land clearing, and invasive species. The degradation of Southwest Australia is caused by regional culture, political, and economic influences. This area has experienced dry land salinity, erosion and vegetation. This degradation is very harmful and if it continues, the chances of a rapid decline of this hotspot are extremely high, and if that happens the economy will be completely destroyed as well.
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"What Is Biodiversity? - National Wildlife Federation." What Is Biodiversity? - National Wildlife Federation. National Wildlife Federation, n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2015.
"Threatened Plants and Animals in the Southwest Australia Ecoregion." Threatened Plants and Animals in the Southwest Australia Ecoregion. WWF, n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2015.
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