ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATION IN AUSTRALIA

Veronika Sudková

Issues with no end of sight. Coastal ecosystems and temperate zones are radically altered or in many cases even destroyed. The geographical character of Australia is highly variable, including areas with snow-capped mountain peaks such as the Australian Alps and Tasmania, as well as vast deserts or tropical rainforests and temperate forests. Climate change, and introduced plants and animals, are the consequences of the radical changes that are tearing through Australia's environment. And what is the result? Dramatic declines in the distribution and abundance of many species, with natural resources such as water now is really valuable.

Fires and bushfires are the first problem to speak about, it really shapes the environmental situation in Australia. Grass and bushfires are common on the island. Grass fires move quickly, stop burning within 5 to 10 seconds, and burn for minutes. They have low to medium treatment and mostly damage fields, livestock and farm infrastructure. Bushfires are generally slower but have a higher heat output - they stop burning within 2 to 5 minutes, but burn for days.

Deforestation is the second main problem in Australia. Australia is one of the worst developed countries in the world for broadscale deforestation—killing tens of millions of native animals and wiping out endangered forests and woodlands. We lost nearly half of our forests in the last 200 years which is really demanding for the environment.

Overfishing and illegal fishing is another issue nature has to deal with. Species that have been classified as overfished are for example: bluefin tuna, blue warehou, silver trevally or orange roughy. Another problem is connected with this, which is the destruction of coral reefs. In 2015 UNESCO said that Australia needs to come up with a plan to conserve coral reefs, which may have succeeded, because last year's scientists announced that they noted the extensive proliferation of the Great Barrier Reef. Over the course of one night, the corals released a large number of sperm and eggs into the water, creating brightly colored clumps in the water. According to the researchers, this is evidence that the reef is recovering from previous negative events such as bleaching.

Last problem I want to mention is Overgrazing whichis one of the main pressures on biodiversity in Australia. Grazing and various agricultural improvement strategies have modified vast areas of grasslands and open grassy woodlands. In temperate ecosystems, less than 2% of the original grasslands remain. Moreover, overgrazing promotes desertification kioland erosion, and is also seen as one cause of the spread of invasive plants.