Human+Influences+and+Climate


 * Human Influences and Climate**


 * Dr. Simpson's class - Sam, Zoe & Liv**

A tough task! 1. How do humans use the site - the school population and the out of hours visitors? 2. Are these uses in conflict with the protection of the local vegetation and animals? 3. Can they be managed? 4. How does the climate effect the plants found here, the animals found here - is there a changing pattern based on changed climatic conditions? 5. FIRE!!! 6. How do we manage the use of the site for humans?

=**Human Management Plans**=

**Current Problems:**
· **Trespassers:** Although Woodleigh desires to encourage the locals to use the Woodleigh grounds, there are a number of problems presented by their presence. The animals brought onto the Woodleigh’s grounds often stress the animals that Woodleigh host in the reserve. **Domesticated Animals:** A problem on Woodleigh is the domesticated, but roaming animals that make their way onto school property and cause undue stress to the animals on-property and disturb the students. This has been a major issue in the past; the farm has lost a few sheep and other small animals due to dogs living in surrounding properties. Rub**bish:** The amount of rubbish left around the school during the school week is an increasing problem, with more and more areas becoming makeshift rubbish dumps. This rubbish builds up and is causing long lasting and serious damage to our natural environment.

**Proposed Solutions:**
· **Guest Book:** At each entrance, shall be a laminated guest book in which each visitor upon the property shall sign their names, the date, the time they arrive and the time they leave, along with their purpose upon the property. Although this will mostly be an unenforced policy, those whom respect the school shall hopefully identify their presence upon the property. Within these Guest Books shall be a request to keep to certain rules upon the premises. · **Signs:** Primarily located around the animals kept in captivity upon the property, warning that dogs and the like shan’t be allowed off the leash around the area. · Rubbish Bins: An increase in the amount of rubbish bins upon the property in order to keep the amount of rubbish low. Key locations being the ovals, multipurpose courts, outlaying areas around the ponds and rear-sides of the homesteads 6, 7 and senior. The type of rubbish bin may be looked at too! The ravens empty a lot of material out of our bins in search of food during class time. Remember the cleaners should be interviewed about their needs also as the reguialr emptying of these bins is part of their day. · **Fences:** Place fences around the garden beds that are being trampled. This is a major issue where native Australian plants have been planted, trying to encourage the return of native animals to the area. The students need to be aware of the importance thse native plants serve in preserving our native land andtake care to avoid stepping on new seedlings and grasses.

Several issues on property have provided dividing opinions upon several problems, these problems often have an ethical and moral issue with both solutions proposed. Due to the nature of these conflicting solutions, an amicable solution is difficult to reach.
 * Conflicts: **

· ** Pest Proof Fences: ** There has been a proposal towards the construction of a pest proof fence, much like the one that surrounds the nature reserve, around the school’s perimeter to keep the pest animals out of the school property. A problem with this proposed solution is the image that this fence will present towards the school’s reputation and exterior appearance. · ** Pluver: ** A pest that continually establishes nests around the school and swoops the numerous students that approach the nesting sites. The current solution to removing Pluvers is to find the nests and crush the eggs forcing the Pluvers to abandon the nests. However, Pluvers are remarkably quick at establishing new nests and offspring, making the solutions temporary. This is also seen by some as highly rated on the animal cruelty scale, and so another solution is needed. The main reason for pluvers swooping people are if these people go into their nesting areas and homes. The most logical solution to the [problem is to avoid going into pluver infestred areas at all times. Signs and fencing needs to be established to keep the pluvers seperate from the rest of the wildlife, and warnings for people not to go near the nesting areas, especially during the spring time.  · ** Ravens: ** A natural animal that lives upon the Woodleigh property, but due to the amount of excess food left out by students, the Ravens have become accustomed to the amount of food and no longer migrate during the seasons as they have no need to. The ravens need to be treated as the wild animals they are, and students need to refrain from feeding them or leaving food out for them on purpose. This also ties in with the rubbish bin issue; with less garbage and food scraps lying around the ravens will have no choice but to return to their natural food sources.

Fire:
The proposal for contained fires is a substantial risk for the school, risking property damage and the safety of the school's students. Not to mention the surrounding properties within the suburb, due to Woodleigh's environment, the surrounding grasslands are extremely flammable and can quickly spread out of control. There have been a number of safety measures that have been proposed, in terms of Human Managements and Influence, the fire proposal carries an innate risk. The fire cleansing may damage both Woodleigh's reputation, and role in the local community, as it is doubtful that the locale shall receive the fire proposal favourably. Should the fire spread out of control, then school property could be damaged if not destroyed entirely. Damage to Woodleigh's professional reputation and damage to the property can affect the profit margins of Woodleigh, potentially ruining the school entirely in both a literal and economic sense.

The climate affects how the animals live and how plants grow. The harsh temperatures through summer can be very drying on the flora and can result in many native species drying out and dying. This can be helped through the use of mist sprinklers however this would not be a reasonable solution until water levels are under control. We could also plant more flora of which can survive through harsh temperatures rather than some of the more dependant plants. One of the greatest challenges Woodleigh wildlife has had to undergo is the drought. Although we have received greater rainfall in the past year than previous years, this is still not enough to sustain the reserve and other Woodleigh grounds through the warmer months. Ways that we can continue use sufficient water while still following water restrictions are: · Investing in more water tanks to harness the rainfall when we do get it. · Using as much recycled water on the environment as possible. Signs telling people to be more aware of the long term impacts of their actions, instead of just the obvious short term. (saving a litre of water, turning heaters off, ect.)
 * Climate. **

Gas emissions and climate change are issues that affect the whole planet, not just Woodleigh. It is important to be wary of our emissions, even if the impact on Woodleigh’s grounds may be minor, as our contribution can affect the entire planet. We can help this by converting a percentage of our power to solar and simply placing signs around the school making students and teachers aware of emissions and turn off lights, power etc when not needed.