The task:
The aim of your Essay is to present a balanced analysis of your chosen topic in sustainable
resource use. Students should research individually a topic of their choice in sustainable
resource use which must consider the environmental, the social, and economic aspects.
Note, this Essay will form the basis for your Presentation (Assignment 2, instructions are
provided separately on the Study Desk).
Use the following list of broad assignment topics as a starting point. There are many options
within each topic, so you can discuss your plan with your Lecturer/Examiner before proceeding
if you want to make sure it is acceptable. All topics must approach their subject matter in an
integrated way. That is, they need to take some account of the environmental, social, and
economic aspects of the issue. An international outlook is possible, but you must ensure to
include the Australian aspects as well.
Optional Topic 7: Using the State of Environment Report (SER), choose one resource from
this list: “Biodiversity”, critically analyze the key findings presented
in the report and summarise what are the future pressures and management approaches for
that resource according to SER.
Details:
The essay should be between 2000-3000 words (not including the reference list at the end).
The main body of the essay should discuss and evaluate relevant aspects of their topic, and
must consider the environmental, the social, and economic aspects. Students are expected
to cite appropriate sources throughout, which should primarily be primary sources (e.g.,
academic journal articles, reports), and perhaps some secondary materials (e.g., textbooks). It
should have a clear structure beginning with an introduction (which should provide an overview
of the topic and briefly include the scope of the essay), a main body (where students will explore
their topic), and a conclusion. Sub-headings are welcome if necessary and used appropriately.
Diagrams are also encouraged if used appropriately and add something to the essay.
Introduction (~ 500 words)
The introduction should introduce your thesis and explain the outline of your essay. The essay
should start with appropriately broad introduction to the topic, briefly explain the significance of
the topics and provide an outline for the remaining body of the essay.
Main body of Essay (~ 1000 words)
The body of an essay is where your argument is developed. The main body of the essay should
discuss and evaluate relevant aspects of their topic. Here you can use sub-headings to break up
the text (recommended).
Conclusions (~ 500 words)
The conclusion draws your argument together and restates your thesis. It is generally a shorter
paragraph than the introduction.
My prefferred body structure:
Environmental key findings (200 words) (1 source)
Economic key findings (200 words)
(1 source)
Social key findings (200 words)
(1 source)
Environmental pressures (200 words)
(1 source)
Economic pressures (200 words)
(1 source)
Social pressures (200 words)
(1 source)
Environmental management approaches (200 words)
(1 source)
Economic management approaches (200 words)
(1 source)
Social management approaches (200 words)
(1 source)
Below is what I have done so far. Please continue my work:
1
Introduction
Biodiversity
describes the abundance of life on Earth including plants, animals and cellular
organisms and underpins many of the earth’s natural functions fundamental to
the survival of its inhabitants. It is essential to the balance of nature and
is needed to sustain ecosystem services which facilitate water and nutrient
cycles. Biodiversity enables the production of food, medicine and other essential
goods which influence the economy and are needed for human survival and comfort.
Additionally, biodiversity regulates the spread of disease, earth’s climate,
provides shelter and has underlying spiritual, cultural and recreational significance
for humans. Hence, biodiversity holds intrinsic social value and is central to
maintaining economic prosperity and environmental stability.
Despite
biodiversity’s overwhelming importance for sustaining nature and earth, human
actions are destroying biodiversity as overconsumption exceeds natures capacity
to provide. Invasive species, climate change, population growth, extreme
weather events and habitat destruction are primary drivers of extinction and biodiversity
loss within Australia. Biodiversity loss negatively impacts the delicate
balance of ecosystems and in some cases can cause entire ecosystems to collapse
having ongoing consequences for the economy and in some cases causing deep
cultural distress within communities as spiritually significant species become
extinct. Ecosystem service decline due to biodiversity loss disturbs food,
water and medicine production which strains the economy and deteriorates human
wellbeing. Australia, known for its unique and diverse ecosystems, must balance
development and conservation as the country and world tackle challenges related
to biodiversity.
The following
essay provides a balanced analysis of biodiversity and considers social,
economic and environmental aspects related to biodiversity. It explores the
state of biodiversity within Australia by introducing key findings listed,
assessing future pressures discussed and evaluating management approaches
presented within Australia’s 2021 State of Environment Report (SER). Whilst drawing
upon primary and secondary sources for further evidence, the essay illustrates
the need for integrated approaches to conservation by examining correlations
between biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, human health, economic stability
and social wellbeing.
2 Body
2.1 SER Key
Findings
Environmental
Australia’s State of Environment Report 2021 illustrates the current
state of biodiversity, emphasizing its decline and highlighting key threats to
the environment. Primary threats to the environment listed within SER’s key
findings include climate change, habitat destruction and an increase in
threatened and invasive species. These threats are broad and encompass a series
of more specified pressures defined within SER.
Australian planning and conservation efforts have been
unsuccessful at reversing biodiversity decline due to lack of action and
capability. Although improvements have been made in measuring and understanding
Australia’s biodiversity, the country’s ability to accurately monitor and
assess its biodiversity is inadequate. Without effective monitoring,
Australia’s capacity to further its conservative action is limited as past and
ongoing efforts have been unable to effectively reverse/stall marine and
terrestrial species decline. While greater species extinctions are predicted
the effects of species decline on ecological communities have not been
proactively considered. As ecosystems such as the Great Barrier Reef and Australia’s
tropical rainforests experience collapse, biodiversity threats and their
effects are accumulating and intensifying. Extreme weather events, climate
change, ecosystem destruction and invasive species continue to have ongoing/permanent
effects on the environment leading to biodiversity change and ecosystem collapse.
Economic
State of Environment’s
key findings discuss biodiversity’s economic significance, highlighting the
importance of ecosystem services upheld by biodiversity and its role in enabling
the provision of essential goods and services. Humans are reliant upon Earth’s natural
resources for their food and livelihoods.
