Environmental Economics Salinity
ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS INTRODUCTION Salinity is one of Australia’s most imperative environmental and rural economic tribulations. ... SALINITY ‘Salinity is a general term used to describe the presence of different salts such as sodium chloride, magnesium and calcium sulfates and bicarbonates in the soil and water. ... This term ‘Dryland Salinity’ is often used in this context to describe the effects on non-irrigated and irrigated land.’ (Queensland Government: Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2001, Salinity in Queensland, page1) Dryland salinity is classified as either primary or secondary. Primary salinity occurs naturally (from sources such as rain) while secondary salinity is induced by human activities (such as agriculture and land clearance. ... Source: AGO 2001b; cited in June, 2002 Dryland salinity causes damage to built infrastructures, agriculture production and the environment. SALINITY AND ITS EFFECT ON THE ECONOMY Salinity will have a major effect on the economy in the future if the issue is not addressed in the present. ... 5 million hectares of land already affected by dryland salinity (representing 0. ... An estimate of the area with high potential to develop salinity is around 5. ... The financial market will also suffer losses due to damage to buildings, roads, bridges, and sewage lines which is expected from the effects of dryland salinity. An estimated 19 000 kilometres of Australia’s roads were recorded as being affected by dryland salinity in 2000. ... ‘In terms of value of production forgone, costs of dryland salinity are in the range of $130m to $330m per year. ... ASSETS IN AREAS AT HIGH RISK FROM SHALLOW WATERTABLES WITH HIGH SALINITY HAZARD Asset Units 2000 2020 2050 Agricultural land (a) ha. ... The clearing of native woodlands and forests can directly lead to salinity problems. ... The effect of dryland salinity on farmlands is deleterious and costs rural communities millions of dollars each year in losses. GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT CONCERNING LAND CLEARING AND SALINITY Neither government nor industry has implemented an action plan to undertake the salinity problem in Queensland. CSIRO has indicated that if clearing continues Queensland will also be facing a high salinity crisis akin to the southern states of Australia. ... LAND CLEARING AND ITS ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMICAL COSTS Queensland is a large and physically diverse state that has more biodiversity than any other state in Australia, and yet, it is being eradicated as rapidly as possible causing injurious impairments to the environment and in the long term to the economy. Some of the environmental costs tolled due to land clearing are: · Queensland government studies have indicated that of the 1085 regional ecosystems identified in Queensland, 305 are already threatened. ... · Land and soil degradation A number of long-term economic costs due to land clearing causing salinity will also be incurred the following is a list of a few expenses that have been presumed by the CSIRO, the Australian Conservation Foundation and the National Farmers Federation. ... Loss of environmental assets is estimated at over $40 million. ... Queensland and Australia will be facing major economical and environmental costs if procedures to prevent salinisation are not put into engagement. PROPOSALS TO PREVENT AND CONTROL SALINITY Currently only minor areas are affected by salinisation in Queensland, but salinity outbreaks are expected to increase due to human activities such as land clearing (secondary dryland salinity).