Water Scarcity Management and Minimizing Biodiversity Loss - Assignment Example

A comparison of Australia and Brazil on clean water scar management and minimizing Biodiversity loss Contents A comparison of Australia and Brazil on clean water scarcity management and minimizing Biodiversity loss 0 1-Government Regulation and Policies 1 2-Trends in ‘Grass-Roots’ Action 2 3-Key Scientific Research and Technological Innovation 3 4-The Actions of Non-Government Organizations and the Private Sector 4 Promoting Water Stewardship 5 Protecting Wetlands 5 Australia and Brazil on Minimizing Biodiversity Loss 6 1-Government Regulation and Policies 7 1-Trends in ‘grass-roots’ action 8 2-Key scientific research and technological innovation 9 3-The actions of non-government organizations and the private sector 9 References 10 Introduction This paper seeks to comparatively discuss the issue of clean water scarcity and biodiversity loss in Australia and Brazil. Biodiversity and water are interdependent — any disruption in either obviously leads to an interruption in both. Since all lives rely on clean water, the hydrological cycle dictates how the environment works; in simply terms, it sustains life. The soil and vegetation in the environment, consequently, drive the flow of water. Appreciating the role of our environment, and thus biodiversity, in hydrological cycle, permits better decision-making in formulating clean water policies and practices, not only in the two nations, but the world as a whole. The populations in Brazil and Australia have positively harnessed most of their natural waterways—building water wells, dams, massive irrigation systems as well as other structures which have permitted civilizations to thrive and grow. But clean water systems are progressively stressed, and some lakes, aquifers, and rivers are drying up. The figure below shows the distribution of water in the earth. Figure 1. Distribution of water on Earth. Source: (IUCN, 2010) Australia and Brazil on Clean Water Scarcity and Management of Water Resource 1- Government Regulation and Policies In Australia there is relatively less focus on energy and climate change policies that pertain to the sustaining of clean water resources, even with the extensive history and projected increased in droughts in Australia. Australia’s policy is not comprehensive enough to cover important aspects of water resource management as compared to other developed countries (such as the U.K) or tend to lack a sound strategy similar to Brazil’s partial measures. Climate change and energy policies that do exist consider fresh water resource management only take it in terms of using it as a potential source of energy generation (Newell, B., D. Marsh, 2011). Brazil, on the other hand, has long plans to develop hydropower that will have minimal effect on populations and the environment. However, in order to implement these steps, extensive enforcement is required by the Brazilian government and requires considerable work at the grass root level. The major problem is not the absence of a Climate change policies in Australia and Brazil but overlooking the issue of clean water management for the future. 2- Trends in ‘Grass-Roots’ Action One method to bring down water loss is the incorporation of water restrictions that are a response to chronic water shortages in countries like Australia. These restrictions include small grass root actions such as limitations on watering lawns, using sprinklers, washing cars and pavement. Additionally, the Snowy Hydro Scheme is considered environmentally important for Australia since it supplies water to the agricultural industries of Victoria. The balance between the operation of the Snowy Hydro Scheme and the neighboring environment is watchfully monitored. Efforts are in place to avert soil erosion and to observe the impact on animals and plants. After a period of six years of talks and negotiations the Federal Government of Brazil approved a National Water Law (9433) in 1997 which was designed to incorporate modern water management protocols and instruments into the water management system. Also, in order to implement this law,the National Water authority was founded whose main function was to enforce the National Water Law at a grass root level. Additionally the Government of Brazil has also introduced a program for becoming zero emission by 2021 and thus far is successful in lowering its carbon footprint. 3- Key Scientific Research and Technological Innovation As clean water becomes increasingly scarce across Australia and Brazil, people are starting to understand the significance of practicing conservation. A study by ssfkk299 reveals that toilets use up to 45 percent of total water in households. Scarcity of water supply in Australia and Brazil makes it more serious when plumbing bathrooms. Dual-flush toilets are currently being installed in beautiful new bathroom as a trendy practice in the market. The button of low flow option within the dual flush toilets assist residents lessens their weekly water costs by conserving water. The dual flush toilets, compared to conventional toilets, can use close to 1.6 gallons of clean water per flush; conventional toilets model uses over 4.8 gallons. The low-volume flush on a dual flush toilets use 1.1 gallons or less in every flush. It is estimated that replacing each conventional toilet with a dual flush model can save up to 2 billion gallons of clean water each day. Figure 2 below shows a picture of dual flush toilet Figure 2. Dual flush toilet 4- The Actions of Non-Government Organizations and the Private Sector There are several independent groups in Australia that are basically involved in climate monitoring and reduction in emissions. Climate Change Network Australia (CANA, 2014) is a union of a total 65 Australian states, research groups, communities and health institutions that are working towards solving the climate change issue. Another is a Union of Concerned Scientists working towards increasing forest cover that in turn will reduce carbon emissions. Similar organizations are also active in Brazil,which is working towards environmental monitoring and also on reducing water scarcity throughout the country that also includes aprovision of clean water to remote parts of the area. The Union of Concerned Scientists is basically involved in the reduction of carbon emissions through rewards and incentives for tropical countries. Another important organization is the Climate Action Network Latin America (CANLA, 2014) that is also working toward preserving the environment and provides clean water. The following are also being done by international organizations: Promoting Water Stewardship To benefit both nature and people, WWF supports and advocate for organizations in Australia and Brazil to become responsible clean water stewards. They work on new projects to create an international clean water stewardship standard via Alliance for clean Water Stewardship. WWF also conducts projects which measure clean water use and impacts of river basin and demonstrate remedies to reducing these impacts. They partner with organizations and industries to pinpoint water risks and work towards enhancing water stewardship. Protecting Wetlands An international treaty had been established to guard wetlands across the world; the Ramsar Convention. As a result, there are over 2,000 wetlands labeled as Wetlands of International Significance. This implies that the nation in which the wetland is situated has to protect the site from pollution, and drainage. Adapting to climate change To address institutional hurdles, WWF works to manage clean water resources and protect life habitats before we realize the worst effects of climate change. This work entails encouraging adaptation in climate change in international conventions as well as supporting the conservation and re-establishment of wetlands. They help conduct valuations of vulnerabilities of river basins to climate change and incorporate climate change concerns into management of the river basin. Australia and Brazil on Minimizing Biodiversity Loss Our planet together with its ecosystems provides us with every natural resource we require to live - essentials like clean water, clean air, food and bio-fuel. Interaction with nature is recommended for our mental and physical health. However, biodiversity - the diversity of life in the earth - is deteriorating; with more than half of all animals facing possible threaten of extinction. Climate change, as earlier mentioned, is a causative agent to this decline. It causes a rapid loss of the diversity of life than before. A 1ºC increase in world temperatures endangers the survival of close to 10% species. In Australia, much of the biodiversity, including majority of the birds, plants, and butterflies, is declining. Their wildlife zones are too fragmented and disjointed, which makes it tougher for wildlife to thrive and react to climate change or other pressures, such as pollution. Australia and Brazil both are known to house exotic animal species, Australia because of its geographic location that allowed numerous species to evolve in isolation; this is hardly found in any other place in the world. Brazil also has the Amazon Rivers that runs through the heart of the country and is home one of the most rich ecosystems on the planet. Unfortunately, due to global warming both countries, just as the rest of the globe, are at risk for bio diversity loss. The figure below shows the threat of extinction faced by animals. Figure A. Different levels and threats of extinction according to various species Source: (IUCN, 2010) 1- Government Regulation and Policies In 2010, Commonwealth Minister (Tony Burke) for Sustainability, Water, Environment, Population and Communities released Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for Australia on behalf of NRMMC (Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council). This Plan had been established by Australian Government in association with all territory and state governments. This is an important national policy which will guide the community, the governments, Indigenous peoples, industry, land managers, and scientists in managing and protecting Australias animals, plants, and ecosystems – that is, its biodiversity. The plan has a long-term vision of making the biodiversity of Australia healthy and resistant to threats. To attain this vision, the plan stipulated three priorities of action: Building resilience ecosystem in a changing climate, Engaging all Australians and Getting quantifiable results. Every priority is reinforced by results, quantifiable targets and action. Several ecologically rich regions of Australia have been regarded as vulnerable to destruction by global warming and climate change. These include the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Kakadu Wetlands and Australian Alpine areas. Australia introduced its Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in 1999 that provides a legal framework in order to protect nationally important flora, fauna, and ecological communities. However, unlike Brazil, enforcement seems to be missing from the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. 1- Trends in ‘grass-roots’ action The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act enables the government to assess individuals (such as developers, mining companies,land owners, farmers) that are linked to environmental disruption activities and are required to follow a federal assessment process. Even though, there are sufficient assessment and polices but still their implementations are an issue, and the Government fails to mention any important achievements that were carried out under the act. In 2008, the Presidential Decree 6.321 was imposed that allowed the government to single out communities with high deforestation rates and were dealt with stringent laws (Barcklay & Gandour, 2012).Also, marked the influence of the government to reduce biodiversity loss at the grass root level. Individual people who’ve had a disproportionately large influence; 2- Key scientific research and technological innovation Australia has recently proposed a Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) that could use carbon credits funding carbon reduction through deforestation. It has also developed several tools that help researchers to implement the Environmental Plantings Methodology. These tools include the CFI reforestation tool and the CFI mapping tool (DCC, 2014). Whereas Brazil has mentioned the implementation of an Agro-energy plan that aimed at carrying out research and development that would allow sustainable energy and preservation of forests through technology innovation. 3- The actions of non-government organizations and the private sector The Union of Concerned Scientists works specifically to reduce deforestation via international agreements and in turn has incentives for countries that comply with them. Their main aim is to reduce deforestation and degradation of the natural ecosystems. Both Australia and Brazil comply with UCS (UNCS, 2014). Additionally Australia is also confirmed with the Koyoto-Protocol that involved in reforestation, reduction of deforestation and preservation of Biodiversity(Australian Government, 2011). In Brazil especially the UN-REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) is working on developing and implementing forest management and conservation policies(UN, 2011). Bush Heritage, in Australia, is another non-government organization that strategically purchase land with a high conservation value and manages these reserves for as long as possible. The organization has been working on conserving endangered species and to prevent biodiversity loss. Bush Heritage in Australia was working on conserving 67 threatened plant communities and on 236 threatened animal and plant species (Bush Heritage, 2011). References Barcklay, R., & Gandour, C. C. e. (2012). Government Policies Responsible for Half of the Reduction in Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. Retrieved from http://climatepolicyinitiative.org/press-release/government-policies-responsible-for-half-of-the-reduction-in-deforestation-in-the-brazilian-amazon/ Bush Heritage. (2011). Bush Heritage Australia. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Retrieved from http://www.bushheritage.org.au/ CANLA. (2014). Climate Action Network Latin America. Retrieved from http://www.climatenetwork.org/profile/member/climate-action-network-latin-america-can-la Challinor, A., Martre, P., & Asseng, S. (2014). Making the most of climate impacts ensembles. Nature Climate  …. Retrieved from http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v4/n2/full/nclimate2117.html DCC. (2014). Climate change australia. Retrieved from http://www.climatechange.gov.au/ DEPI. (2012). Land for wildlife. Retrieved from http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/environment-and-wildlife/community-programs/land-for-wildlife EPA, U. S. (2013). Revisions to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule and Final Confidentiality (pp. 11–15). IUCN, compiled by Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2010) Global Biodiversity Outlook 3, May 2010, p. 28 Newell, B., D. Marsh, and D. S. (2011). Climate–energy–water: the need for integrated adaptation and mitigation policies in the Australian electricity sector. Ecology and Society, 16(2), 15. Retrieved from http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol16/iss2/art15 Pittock, J. (2011). National climate change policies and sustainable water management, conflicts and synergies. Retrieved from http://41.73.194.134:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/89 Read More