Environmental change and management program

Learning activities

Mangrove communities thrive along the middle section of the Lane Cove River estuary. However, recently a small section of mangroves found below Blackman Park have died. Students will investigate the riverine/estuarine environments of the Lane Cove River and predict the causes of the environmental change. 

This fieldwork will support a comparative study with at least ONE other country.

Inquiry question

• How can the environment at Blackman Park be effectively managed for healthy mangrove communities?

Fieldwork

Students will explore the recreational space, the ridgetop woodland and the mangrove forest on the shores of the river. Students will analyse aerial photography to support their field observations of current land uses, to develop background knowledge of the study area. Field sketches and historical and current maps will enable students to deepen their understanding of environmental change by allowing them to describe the biophysical processes that have transformed the river and surrounding environments of Blackman Park.

Mangrove forests edge the shoreline of the Lane Cove River estuary. Students will use geographic tools to investigate the biological requirements of mangrove communities and compare areas of living mangrove forest and dead mangrove forest. Changes in the environment and the consequences of these changes will be explored and students will begin to make connections as to the cause of the dead zone in the mangrove forest.

Blackman Park’s role as a multi-purpose recreational space and its location in the lower north shore places considerable pressure on the competing needs of recreational space and natural values. Current management of the site, its effectiveness and the differing views of management will be assessed.