The document discusses various types of impacts that can occur in national parks like the Grampians National Park in Australia. It mentions conservation, recreation, and commercial impacts and gives examples of each. It also provides background information on the park, describing its size, location, vegetation and wildlife, as well as organizations responsible for its management. Potential conflicts between different user groups seeking to utilize the park are also discussed.

1. GraMpIanS The NatiONaL PArk

2. Impacts introduction: Explain the different types of impacts that exist in general, providing at least 2 examples of each and the types of things they impact upon. There are three main different main types of impacts. They are conservational, commercial and recreational impacts. Each one effects the environment in either one way or another. Conservation is The protection, preservation, management, or restoration of wildlife and of natural resources such as forests, soil, and water. The effect of this is trying to preserve nature. Ways of conserving the environment include Fencing natural wet lands Leaving river snags in a place for fish habitats Protecting dead trees with hollows Planting local native trees shrubs and grasses. Controlling pets, environmental weeds, rabbits and foxes. A recreational impacts is something we change in the environment to make it better for recreation. An example of this is: Putting in paths Building bridges Cutting down trees Making stairs Putting in bins Putting in toilets Making camping sites

3. Background on the Grampians List two organisations that have a role in managing the Grampians National Park The park is managed by Parks Victoria and Nature wise. In a maximum of two sentences describe what each of these organisations are responsible for Each of these organisations are responsible for managing the park in a way such as keeping the parks clean from litter and pollution, and maintaining their natural states. When was it declared a national Park? It was declared a national park in 1984 How much area does it cover? The Grampians is a 167000-hectare park which is an area of 47980 square kilometres and includes eleven local government areas What are some of the flora and Fauna you are likely to find in the Grampians? The park contains over 900 indigenous plant species. Twenty of these, including the Grampians Gum and Grampians Parrot-pea, are found nowhere else in the world. The others also include Sub-alpine,Sclerophyll Forests, Shrubby Woodlands, Savannah Woodlands, Heath Woodland, Heath lands, Swampland and Riparian vegetation. Large populations of Emus are found throughout the lowland areas. Over 40 species of mammal have been recorded in the park. They include kangaroos, possums, gliders, echidnas and koalas.

4. Introduced Species The Grampians is home to a variety of Introduced/Exotic species. Explain one of them and how its introduction has impacted on the natural landscape/environment. You can use the information from the class wiki. A few of the introduced species to the park include: Cattle Egret Feral Pigeon Skylark Blackbird House sparrow European Gold finch New Holland Honey eater Farrow and Red deer Feral goat A majority of these species are birds which means not the items that birds use to survive such as trees, twigs and animals ect, are what may be impacted by these species. They make change to the already existing animals in a number of ways, one in which they may use another animal already in the Grampians as Prey and vice versa. Each species makes or creates a habitat for themselves in a different way. Birds may create huge nests up in the tree’s while snakes use underground as their natural habitat. Introduced species may also change how other natural species may exist due to safety for themselves.

5. The Grampians National Park The value of the Grampians varies for different groups. Either using a chart similar to the one below or using another method of presentation provide insight into your knowledge of the values in the Grampians. Caravan Parks Canteens To make money Commercial Planting Trees Fencing areas People who want to conserve the park Conservational Rock climbing Hiking People who use the park for recreation Recreational Cave paintings Animals within the park People who have personal links to the park do to beliefs Cultural

6. Codes of Conduct Explain the key points of bush walking and mountain bike riding codes of conduct. What are the positives and negatives of the key codes?

7. Codes of Conduct List as many ways you can minimise the impacts of a recreational and commercial use. (found in your textbook) RECREATIONAL USE Walk only on formed tracks and avoid creating new pathways Camp only in designated areas and ‘hard’ surfaces Consider your group size in relation to the venue you are visiting or the activity you are undertaking Use fuel stoves Do not remove rocks, ground litter, plants or animals including shells and seaweed Do not light fires on total fire ban days. Remove all rubbish including food scraps and cigarette butts Abide by catch size and limit regulations when fishing Ride bikes and motorcycles and drive cars, including 4 wheel drives, on designated roads and tracks only. COMMERCIAL USE Abide by catch size and limit regulations when fishing Fish in designated commercial fishing area with an appropriate license Protect and maintain remnants of specific ecosystems on your land (for example, box and ironbark forest, native grasslands and coastal heath land.) Restore plant communities and habitat by revegetation programs Establish a whole-farm plan for your property that takes into account wildlife corridors and water conservation

8. Conflicts of interest Successful management is vital for the long term security of the park. Choose 2 different user groups and then list the possible conflicts that may arise between them over the use of the park. Recreational user groups may try and change the ay the park is run. Bush walkers may want more tracks, picnic areas and toilets put into a natural park ect, which would most likely require destroying of the park by cutting down trees and shrub to make room for these things. Cultural users would prefer to keep the park in tact and as natural as they can by not adding things to the area weather to improve the park or not. They believe the area needs to be left how it was found to make it natural other wise there is no point calling it a natural environment. To most people it is important to preserve the park as long as they can, but recreational users would rather improve the park for their own use weather it affects the park in either a good or a bad way. Listen to the mobile blogs. http://vceoes.wordpress.com/2008/10/26/lances-audio-blog-2/ What impact is Lance talking about? How could this be conservational? Railing and steps on the way up the pinnacle What are the positives and negatives of the impacts Lance mentions? So humans can use them to get to the pinnacle. Vegetation has been destroyed to build the railing What sort of interest groups would contribute to the impacts at the sight of Lances mentions? The would be mainly for recreational users who need the railing to help them climb up the rock. http://vceoes.wordpress.com/2008/10/26/ashlees-audio-blog-2/ What impact has Ashlee talking about> what type of impact do you think this is? Damage of the flora caused from people not sticking to paths. What has been done to limit or stop the damage of this impact along the walk to the pinnacle? Path ways have been built and arrows have been put in to show people where to go

9. You must make a decision regarding the land classification (zoning) of the Grampians. Discuss the decision you make and the reasons for this decision. Outline the interest groups this decision will impact on and how they will be impacted.