Haas 1 Alexandra Haas Diane Godfrey 12 November 2013 GCU 114 Biodiversity and Cultural Identity Australia houses

an array of people of different races, genders, ages, species, and cultures. All of which utilize environments throughout the country whether it be Bondi Beach in New South Wales, the Baiame cave in Queensland or the Pinnacles of Western Australia. To keep Australias biodiversity healthy and resilient, cultural groups hold the environment at high value as it contributes to many of their traditions and sacred places. Baiame Cave is located in Queensland and holds a sketch on its wall about the Baiame God. It tells the story of Baiame coming down from the sky to the land to create rivers, mountains and forests (Links, 2013). It is said that he then gave people their ways of life, traditions, songs, and culture. Without this cave, the cultural belief of Baiame would be lessened, as Aboriginals would have had no place to worship their creator. This cave holds massive significance and is an example of a natural landscape connected to culture. Baiame Cave is protected today under section 84 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act (1974). The Minister of Environment has declared the land as an Aboriginal Place that holds special significance to Aboriginal culture. Areas can be protected under this Act when they have spiritual, historical, social, and educational or other significance (Declaration of Aboriginal Places in NSW). Australia also houses the mountainous region in New South Wales called the Blue Mountains. This beautiful sandstone plateau is significant to Australian culture as there are carved images of animal tracks and an

Haas 2 occupation cave in a site on the mountains. The site is known as Kings Tableland Aboriginal site can be dated back to 22,000 years ago (Links, 2013). Today, UNESCO lists the area as a World Heritage Area as of 2000. It has also been reported that Aboriginals were able to walk through these caves and under the mountains but no one knows how to get there to this day (Links, 2013). The sacredness these two areas are kept at gives a good idea how the Australian government maintains these special landscapes biodiversity. Currently, these places are used a tourism stops in order to keep up awareness and pass down the generation. Travelers around the world make their way to Milparinka, the city that houses Baiame cave each year. The breathtaking Blue Mountains rake in thousands of dollars each year in visitors that go towards the upkeep of the mountains (Blue Mountains, 2011). Unfortunately, these areas and the animals that inhabit it face environmental issues that can affect biodiversity if not handled properly. Australia is facing invasive species and non-native species migrating in which threaten the balance of the Australian bush. These invasive species can be threatening to native plants and landscapes. Climatic changes also affect conditions that species need to survive. This could result in the extinction of some species in specific areas. These climatic changes can often lead to fire hazards in Australia that could destroy sacred landscapes. Australia also deals with salinity changes in soil structures that can affect the biodiversity of their local species (Act Now, 2008). These changes in the environment would also hinder culture. The environment is clearly an intricate part of Australian culture and to keep culture up, environment must be maintained.

Haas 3 Sources: Ashley. (2008, April 3). Biodiversity. Retrieved from http://www.actnow.com.au/Issues/Biodiversity.aspx

Australian biodiversity conservatoin. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/australias-biodiversity-conservationstrategy

Declaration of aboriginal places. (2013, May 13). Retrieved from http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/conservation/AboriginalPlacesNSW.htm

Links, C. (2009, April 13). Australian sacred sites. Retrieved from http://www.crystalinks.com/aussacredsites.html