Unit 3 Area Study 2

3.2.1 - contemporary societal relationships with outdoor environments reflected in different forms of conservation, recreation, primary industries, and tourism practices

compare and contrast different contemporary societal relationships with outdoor environments

What are the perceptions/views?

What interactions are involved?

What impacts are caused by these interactions?

Recreation Can involve both Active and passive recreational

activities

Surfing, Snorkeling, rafting

Photography, bird watching

Playground, adversary, temple, museum

Vegetation damage, limited damage due to connection to area, means people are more likely to look after the environment, erosion of dunes

Tourism PracticesSurf Schools, Outdoor Adventure groups, tours

Resource to make money, classroom where they can teach people, temple that needs to be protected (eco-tourism)

Overuse of some areas leading to erosion and compaction, less damage in areas due to the education of people particiaption

Primary IndustriesFarming – animal, harvesting, logging, mining

etc.

Resource

Dependent on scale of the activity, ranges from erosion, salinity, loss of biodiversity etc.

ConservationWeed eridaication, vegetation control, fire management,

infrastructure development

Temple, needs to be protected

the area would now be managed with a view to conserving its wilderness value and protecting its endemic flora and fauna.

Biodiversity is protected, with native species more likely to survive

area is much less likely to have problems with introduced animals or weeds.

What you should have done?Completed Popplet on the different views held

about two environments

Completed Contemporary Societal Relationship Popplet on a venue of your choice.

3.2.2 – Factors that influence contemporary societal relationshipsthe effects of different technologies

commercialisation of outdoor environments and outdoor experiences

portrayals of outdoor environments and outdoor experiences in the media, music, art, writing and advertising

social responses to risk taking

social and political discourses about climate change, water management, biosecurity and other contemporary environmental issues.

Effect of technologyExamples of changes in technology that we

have seen?

Technological changes

New materials: gortex, polar fleece

Communication devices: mobile phone coverage, satellite phones, UHF radio

Tracking/mapping devices: GPS, Eperbs

More streamlined canoes, ski’s and boards,

lightweight and quickly drying clothing,

lightweight camping gear

Stronger gear

New activities

TechnologyActivities are perceived as being safer; therefore we may do

something we wouldn’t normally

New activities emerge - therefore we may do something we wouldn't’t normally

It has enabled us to go faster and manoeuvre through more difficult and challenging environments. Participation in extreme outdoor pursuits has increased as a result.

It has also improved techniques associated with recreational activities, which has also enabled people to do the unthinkable.

Enhanced accessibility to environments, as well as allowing recreational abilities of all levels to participate – we go to places we couldn’t always, do things we couldn’t

Personal outdoor experiences have been enhanced by technology as the design and development if communication devices; clothing and specialised equipment makes the activity safer and the gear lighter and more effective – do activities that we wouldn’t normally, or for longer etc.

Alienated some people from using natural environments.

It may also have also caused some people to not interact with natural at all

As a result of technology people can engage in different outdoor activities and recreational pursuits. Without technology these relationships would be different.

Technology helps us to move faster, climb further and go to places that we couldn’t before.

Map: changes to getting from A to B rather that seeing the environment. The use of the map has changed the relationship between the experience and us. 

Clothing and equipment: lighter and more comfortable, not as difficult – we can go to places with greater ease or that have been previously impossible to conquer (Mount Everest)

Alienated from the outdoor environment, Focus is often not on enjoying the environment, rather the activity,

IMPACTSRemember that you will need to write how

these changes in interactions and perceptions may impact on the natural environment

Learning Activities - booklet

Technology changes in bushwalking: Answer the following

Discuss how views of outdoor experiences would differ between the three time frames. IE. What would be the main motivations for each groups

Look at each of the equipment groups and discuss how the technological advances have changed the experience of bushwalkers over these timeframes

Select two outdoor activities that we will participate in this year (make sure these are at two different venues that we will visit) and prepare a visual display that demonstrates the changes that have occurred (in detail) and then evaluate the effect these have had on contemporary relationships.

FIND 3 OTHER IMAGES’ THAT ARE EXAMPLES OF TECH CHANGES AND SHARE VIA TWITTER - use #mscoes as your hash tag

Evaluate the effect that technology has had on your experiences in outdoor activities whilst at MSC. In your response you should identify a range of changes and then discuss the ways that this has changed the way that you relate to the natural environment

Investigate a new material that is now used in equipment in outdoor activities. Compare this to a material that was previously used and then evaluate the way that it has changed relationships.

Effect of commercialisation What is commercialisation?

Exploitation of the environment to generate a profit

Outdoor experiences can be viewed as commodities to be packaged and sold according to consumer demands

Examples of commercialisation

Information centres, tours and packages, guide books, grading systems, guides and instructors,

Commercialisation Greater education of the environment - Commercial surfing

schools educate their clients about coastal issues and minimal impact appropriate in coastal places. This might lead to more people developing respect for the coastal environment and starting to care about what happens to it.

develops a relationship where the environment is not very important as the key factor is the experience – maybe

May not want to do the experience again (interaction or view may change) due to overcrowding

May visit areas that we wouldn’t

Increased environmental awareness of areas

Positive effects on the quality of the outdoor experience = the use of experienced or qualified instructors means that less skills are required by those taking part in adventure. Safety levels are usually higher. Less planning is required by participants. It Results in the experience being more easily accessed by individuals.

Negative effects on the quality of the outdoor experience = Organised adventure travel or experiences generally are quite high cost meaning no chance of access for some within our community. It decreases the feeling of remoteness. Participants are usually always being lead, therefore don’t learn appropriate skills, or adventure not gained based on their own decision-making. It may be said that you experience someone else’s idea of adventure.

Portrayals of outdoor events and experiences

encourages people to become physically active in natural environments

fear of certain places or activities = avoidance

a more intimate response to places = connection to

a greater desire to visit certain places to do certain things

Change ways of doing interactions to look after NE

A change in the way we view the NE

Change in interactions

Change from a relationship focused on NE as a resource focus – what can we get out of the environment – to one of consideration for other species and conservation

Social Responses to Risk Taking

fear of certain places or activities = avoidance

Cost of activities increases – may not be able to do or go to particular places that are more popular

questioning the NEED to participate due to the risk involved,

questioning of leader and participant qualifications – less likely to do due to increase of perceived risk

Reduction in the opportunity to participate in these activities,

May be given a false sense of security and participate in an activity that you wouldn’t normally

decrease of sense of adventure and therefore avoid the activity or look to do a different activity – change in interaction

Social and political discourses to environmental issues

Change the way that we do activities

Stop us from doing certain activities

Undertake conservational activities

Build a strong connection to an area

Visit areas that are threatened

Change our view of the NE

Become involved in protecting certain natural environments through participation in interest groups such as watershed victoria