Sustainable Biomes (Puckey’s Estate)

Key inquiry questions answered

• What are the main characteristics that differentiate the world’s biomes?
• How do people use and alter biomes for food production?
• Can the world’s biomes sustainably feed the world’s population?
• What strategies can be used to increase global food security?

Biomes
Students:

• investigate the distribution and physical characteristics of biomes, for example: (ACHGK060)
  • examination of the spatial distribution of biomes
  • identification of biomes used to produce food, industrial materials and fibres
  • explanation of the impact of the climate, soils and vegetation of a biome on its productivity

Changing biomes
Students:

• investigate the human alteration of biomes to produce food, industrial materials and fibres and the environmental effects of these alterations, for example: (ACHGK061)
  • examination of human alterations to the physical characteristics of biomes eg vegetation removal, agriculture, land terracing, irrigation, mining
  • assessment of environmental impacts of human alterations to biomes eg habitat and biodiversity loss, water pollution, salinity
  • discussion of successful sustainability strategies that minimise environmental impacts

Biomes produce food
Students:

• investigate environmental, economic and technological factors that influence agricultural yields in Australia and across the world, for example: (ACHGK062)
  • examination of how environmental factors influence agricultural yields eg temperature, water availability, soil, topography
  • discussion of economic factors affecting agricultural yields eg global trade, commercialisation of agriculture
  • explanation of how technology is used to increase agricultural yields eg innovations and advancements in farming practices

Challenges to food production
Students:

• investigate environmental challenges to food production for Australia and other areas of the world, for example: (ACHGK063)
  • description of the impact of water scarcity and pollution on food production
  • discussion of the impact of land degradation and competing land uses on food production eg urban expansion, biofuel production
  • assessment of the extent to which climate change can affect the capacity of countries to increase food production

Food security
Students:

• investigate the capacity of the world’s biomes to achieve sustainable food security for Australia and the world, for example: (ACHGK064)
  • assessment of the capacity of biomes to produce food into the future
  • analysis of population projections to predict future demand for food
  • examination of sustainable practices used to achieve food security
  • discussion of the potential for Australia to contribute to global food security

Puckey’s Estate Nature Reserve.

Bus Drop Off Location
10am at North Dalton Park, Pioneer Rd, Fairy Meadow NSW 2519

Bus Pick Up Location
2pm at North Dalton Park, Pioneer Rd, Fairy Meadow NSW 2519

Our Sustainable Biomes excursion is also available at;

• Bola Creek Rainforest – Royal National Park – TOP PICK
• Bonnie Vale Wetlands – Royal National Park
• Bobbin Head Wetlands – Royal National Park
• Towra Point Wetlands