Sustainable Biomes (Bonnie Vale Wetlands Experience)

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