Geography - Unit 3 (Topic 2): Responding to local land cover transformations
Port of Brisbane Studies: Land cover transformations is a full day program, where students use geographic inquiry and fieldwork to investigate changes in local land cover occurring within the mangrove forests of Whyte Island, Port of Brisbane. During the field study, students explore the geographical processes (biophysical and anthropogenic) responsible for land cover transformation, identifying their impacts and considering the management challenges of maintaining healthy mangrove forests for biodiversity and coastal protection.
This program supports the fieldwork component of Unit 3, Topic 2: Responding to local land cover transformations and the IA2: Field report.
Pre-program activities provide students with an opportunity to examine maps and spatial data to identify the study site and land cover changes occurring at the Whyte Island mangroves. Students also become familiar with the scientific equipment and data collection methodology to be used during the field investigation and are challenged to identify issues of concern and formulate focus questions for research during the program.
On the program day, students engage in hands-on collection of primary data to identify where and how land cover has changed, management challenges present at the field study location and the connection between geographical processes and changes in land cover over time.
Fieldwork is primarily focused around the river and on Whyte Island, at the Port of Brisbane and may include:
A presentation by a Port of Brisbane (POB) Environmental Manager highlights natural area management challenges in the POB area of operations and utilises satellite imagery to illustrate land cover transformation over time.
To understand interconnections between the Port of Brisbane and its Moreton Bay location, students tour port operations (either by bus or on our vessel, Inspiration), focusing on land use and management (ie. shipping operations, on-shore infrastructure, reclamation areas), and the mitigation strategies put in place to help improve sustainability.
Post program, students analyse and extrapolate fieldwork data using ICTs, to propose sustainable actions for mitigating the challenges and impacts of land cover change in the mangrove forests of Whyte Island.
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Curriculum Intent – Geography 2025 v1.3
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Unit 3 (Topic 2): Responding to local land cover transformations Students: Explain the geographical processes that result in particular physical features (eg. dune systems, river systems, deserts, forests, grasslands) that shape the identity of places at a local scale. Explain the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ connection to Country/Place and their understanding of natural features and elements of the local ecosystem/s, eg. dune systems, river systems, deserts, forests, grasslands. Interpret land use maps to identify where changing land cover (eg. deforestation, land reclamation, agricultural practices, urbanization, land drainage) has had an impact on the biophysical environment in a local area. Explain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ care for land (as applicable to their local area, where relevant) and the impacts of these practices on land cover over time. Explain geographical processes that have contributed to land cover change in a local area, including:
Recognise the spatial changes to land cover at a local scale and represent these on maps using spatial technologies. Explain the implications for environments and people of the changing land cover, including on spiritual and cultural features of value for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, where appropriate. Explain a local land or water management challenge using a conceptual model, eg. threats to biodiversity, reduced water quality or availability, diminished riparian health, salinity, loss of coastal protection through diminished mangroves or dune systems. Conduct a field study (for assessment purposes) to collect primary data for investigating a land management or water management challenge as a result of land cover change on a local scale.
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