INTRODUCTION North Stradbroke Island (NSI), also known as Minjerribah, is a home to many, approximately 2,102 people around the island (Redland City Council, 2016) and the Quandamooka people have thousands of years of a connection with the sea, land, and country (Stradbroke Island, 2018). The Island’s main source of economic growth comes from sand mining. The largest sand mining company on NSI is Sibelco, they have been running the operation since 1950 (Stradbroke Island, 2018). As of 2019, Sibelco will be closing down their sand mining operations, so the island can focus more on tourism and economic needs. Throughout this analytical... Basic Information about Sibelco and Sand Mining Today, Sibelco is a truly multinational business, operating …show more content…
The Government and mining industry is designed to make the public believe that the area that has been destroyed can be regenerated or rehabilitated back to its former state. Although this can be done and trees and other plants are able to grow, the natural ecosystems can not be regrown (Savestraddie.com, 2018). Excessive instream sand-and-gravel mining causes the degradation of rivers. Depletion of sand in the streambed and along coastal areas causes the deepening of rivers and estuaries, and the enlargement of river mouths and coastal inlets. It may also lead to saline-water intrusion from the nearby sea (Environmental Information System, 2013). In addition, although Sibelco states they try to re-establish the original ecosystem, that occupied the island before they begun mining in the area, the ecosystem and plantation will never be the same as it was. With the stopping of sand mining, there will be no further depletion of the vegetation and the ecosystem will be able to grow safely and restore the natural ecosystem, and places that have not been demolished yet, will be safe from destruction from 2019 and onwards. At …show more content…
North Stradbroke Island will be receiving an $11 million increase in their budget to switch their focus on tourism and other things for the island, such as a whale interpretive facility at Point Lookout, expanding the capacity of the island's existing 14-bed aged care facility, bushfire management plans, $1 million for urgent infrastructure works at One Mile and $4.35 million for national park management (Caldwell, 2018). NSI also has many water-based activities all over the Island, so tourist’s can have a chance to take in all the wonderful sites and native animals that are present on the Island. Some activities that allow this to happen are diving and snorkeling, surfing, whale watching, paddling, and swimming freshwater lakes, and they also allow tourist’s to camp out on the beach (NewsComAu, 2018). Having many Quandamooka people on the island, they are always glad to talk to tourist’s and tell them about their ancestry and teach them about their culture and how respect is very important for their island home (Stradbroke Island,
The whole island is in the shape of a giant square with white sandy beaches full of people sunbathing, swimming and fishing right on the shoreline. From the end of the hot pavement parking lot to shore of the beach is an ocean of soft white sand. The pearlescent white sand seems to know how to invade every nook and cranny almost as if it enjoys it. Walking around the beach on the fluffy whiteness surrounding the parking lot, the seagulls are fighting over scraps of food on the ground. “Sandy beach ecosystems provide invaluable services to humankind. Their functions have been exploited through history, with significant anthropogenic effects (Lucrezi, 2015)”. This white sandy beach is a beautiful refuge from the mundane grind of everyday life. The smell of the misty ocean air mixed with the sound of seagulls hovering above and kids playing is a tonic for the mind. The feel of the sand between their toes and the waves crashing over them as people swim in the water, or the jerk of a fishing pole when someone is catching a fish makes Fred Howard Park one of the best places to relax. Standing on the beach looking out on the water, people are kayaking and windsurfing. The lifeguards watching vigilantly in their bright red shirt and shorts, blowing their whistles when they see someone being unsafe. After a long day of swimming and laying around visitors head back over the soft white sand to the showers, in order to rinse off the menacing sand that clings to everything like a bad habit. Everyone rushes over the hot pavement burning their feet to reach their cars so they can put away their beach paraphernalia which is still covered in the white sand, nearly impossible to completely leave behind, so when they get home it serves as a reminder of where they were that
The most destructive problem that occurred a hundred years ago and is still practiced is that of tavy. Tavy is a process of forest clearing, also known as slash and burn. Humans living on the island use this system to create farmland for harvesting their most precious crops. What they do is they cut down all trees and or shrubs then set fire to the area of land that they want to farm. They use the burnt materials as fertilizers and then plant their crop. Next season the farmer must move to another area and continue to burn more of the forest down. Due to this form of farming, humans have turned vast wetlands into deserts and luscious forests into tundra. In the...
...t the guaranteed developmental boom following the completion of the project will also ensure an even greater and more damaging human impact as there will be more beachfront lighting, boats, and beach pollution. Unconcerned with the negative ramifications of the beach nourishment project, islanders on Topsail prove their allegiance to development, tourism, artificial beaches, the promise for a more booming economy and the selfish desire for hurricane protection even though they riskily built homes on one of the most hazardous and unprotected barrier islands in the United States. Topsail’s willingness to betray the environmental protection organizations it’s worked tirelessly to support makes me question whether the promotion of the Topsail Turtle Project and the Turtle Hospital was a noble cause to save endangered animals or a farce to attract the media and tourism.
Colorado has an astonishing 23,000 abandoned mine lands. However, long-term mining impacts on ecosystems and ecosystem recovery are not well understood. Studies show that mining activity increases sediment erosion and exposes large amounts of heavy metals that can runoff into nearby lakes. Increased sedimentation and heavy metal pollution can have long-term impacts on surrounding ecosystems. Water and vegetation resources from the surrounding area are used to help power the mine which can result in high levels of deforestation and water level change. Miners also live in the area surrounding the mine and rely on natural resources for their survival. Even after a mine has been abandoned and activity has stopped, acid mine drainage can continue
Despite the lost coral islets and atolls, the islands have extremely fertile soil. However, certain conditions do affect development. The islands are small with fixed boundaries and are occupied by tens of thousands of people. Irrigation is not possible, limiting their agricultural capabilities to dryland field systems. Being in the middle of the ocean leaves them susceptible to natural disasters such as cyclones and droughts (Kirch 1984: 221).
Environment - current issues: sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations
The sewage is completely backed up; causing unpleasant smelling calamities among the areas it operates in. Poor sewage contributes to pollution by ending up in other bodies of water through runoff, in which the heavily contaminated water may introduce excess amounts of dangerous substances that can cause events, such as algal blooms, and render life impossible. Sewage is not the only problem, as deforestation, especially after the 2010 earthquake, has been on the rise since many people needed to rebuild their homes. As reported by Anup Shah (2010), deforestation makes the topsoil vulnerable to the harsh environment around it. While the deforestation helped with providing shelter for the people who had lost their homes from the earthquake, it caused – and still causes – an economic set back. The forest protects the topsoil, and without it, it makes agriculture very difficult. Difficulty growing crops leads to hunger and more
It is these chemicals that are causing damage to the nearby villages. The mine is located up on a hill. As the water makes its way down the hill it comes down full of sediments turning it a brown colour. It’s these extra impurities in the water that are killing the fish and medicine plants that villages rely on. Pollution in the water is also having an effect on the livestock that are farmed in the area by drinking poisoned water. In 2000, a truck carrying mercury from the mine spilled a container of the toxic metal over a 40km section of road. The accident was not reported until the next day where hundreds of people had to be hospitalised after collecting the mercury (BBC, 2002). An investigation also concluded that the container used to transport the mercury should not have been used and failed to follow international standards for the safe transport of hazardous materials (Hallman & Olivera,
In a research article by Lotze, Coll, Magera, Ward and Airoldi (2011) they examine the positive side of how ecosystems in the ocean can recover even though they are faced with many different types of struggles every day. The authors ask the main question: How common is recovery among depleted populations and degraded ecosystems in the ocean? It is hypothesized that over the years, ecosystems are going to recover and essentially in the future, increase. The results in this study supported the hypothesis of the research on recovery for certain ecosystems and stated that 10-50% of ecosystems actually show some rate of progression (Lotze, 2011). This has significance when looking at pollution and the effect...
New Zealand is a multicultural diverse country. It is famous for low population, delightful beauty, and peaceful atmosphere. New Zealand is a beautiful and uncommon country in the south appeasing. People want to make a good future. They want to be a better future from other than. They want great lifestyle, they like are them then the others. There are many other benefits of study in abroad. There is a good environment to study and get a chance to associate with other international students. Study in New Zealand is popular in amid students searching a defended study environment and free way of life. When you step to a new country, is a bold and inspiring thing to take on as new life adventure, there will be great times and
The Motlhotlo settlement is located within the Anglo Platinum’s Mogalakwena mine. The Mogalakwena mine is located in the Limpopo Province and is situated 30 kilometres north-west of the small town of Mokopane (previously known as Potgietusrust). The Motlhotlo resettlement is a typical example of involuntary relocation and resettlement. This type of resettlement has become fairly common and can be referred to as mining-induced displacement and resettlement (MIDR). Often the problem of MIDR poses major risks to the societal sustainability of an area (Downing, 2002). Often the notion that development projects such as roads, dam and mines may lead to impoverishing people it is often peculiar as development is meant to assist people rather than negatively affect them. However, often through this displacement people lose their livelihoods and are either given monetary...
The act of diamond mining, due to inadequate regulation and planning has caused environmental damage in Africa and many other countries throughout the world. Improper diamond mining causes soil erosion, deforestation, and has caused many locals to relocate. In some extreme cases, diamond mining can collapse an entire ecosystem. When a mine field has been stripped of its resources and abandoned it can cause wildlife to vanish, topsoil to erode, and cause once suitable land for farming to now become unsuitable. These mining pits can also cause public health disasters. The pits can fill with rainwater and attract mosquitoes which in the end can cause malaria and other diseases. When diamond mining occurs our environment gets damaged. With proper regulation and planning this can change. This is how diamond mining has affected our
Most important commercial sources of sand and gravel are river floods, river channels and glacial deposits. Goddard (2007) further noted that soil extraction and processing have significant impacts on scenic landscapes. Excessive extraction intensifies coastal and exposed hillside erosion, causing accumulation of sea water upstream of rivers, leaving the coasts more vulnerable to extreme weather conditions. Soil mining contributes to construction of buildings and development, but can cause permanent loss of soil as well as major habitat destruction (Goddard, 2007). Kuttipuran (2006) reviewed soil mining in Indian communities and explained that as urban areas grow, less wood is used with more concrete structures being required leading to demand for low cost sand. Sand and gravel are most accessible cheap and basic raw materials for the construction industry in India. There is a business of indiscriminate sand mining in public spaces in India. Soil mining is an environmental issue in India and public awareness of illegal extraction in states of Maharashtra and Goa is going on (Pereira, 2012). Bagchi (2010) supported Kuttipuran (2006) on that construction boom fuelled the demand for sand and gravel facilitating uncontrolled extraction which threatens the existence of river systems. Illegal mining of mineral resources is rampant in India such that the country’s natural resources are destroyed as forests are clean
Environment and sustainable development, 2012 Molonglo valley development, Act government, Act, accessed 27 March 2014, .
People from all over the world go to beautiful beaches that are filled with water as clear as ice or as beautiful as diamonds. But, what will happen if we do not conserve the appealing sites that draw attraction to the public? Contaminated beaches has become a controversial issue to the public because of the causal problem, the harm to the people and marine animals, the government agencies supporting or opposing pollution, and the industries involved in creating such unlawful decisions. To create and find a solution, we must first find the core to the problem.