Australian Capital Territory

State of the Environment 2015

Mountain Spiny Crayfish – Euastacus crassus. This crayfish species is located in creeks and small waterways between 600 m and 1000 m elevation in Namadgi National Park and other areas. Its habitat is thought to be restricted to the cooler upper reaches of drainages in the ACT, NSW and Victoria, and the species is considered fragmented across its range, due to the isolating effects of unsuitable warmer lowland habitat. No population data are available for Euastacus crassus in the ACT and little is known about its biology. It is not listed as endangered or vulnerable under the Nature Conservation Act 2014. It is, however, on the IUCN Red List of threatened species and listed in Victoria. A current project is under way to survey for this species to determine its distribution in the ACT. Photo: Mark Jekabsons, ACT Government
What are the drivers and pressures on our environment? Human needs
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3.2 Introduction

Humans are dependent on the environment to provide not only the basic needs of food and water but the more complex needs of recreation and mental health as well. Supplying these needs puts pressure on the environment and is a key driver of environmental change.

This chapter will:

  • define human needs
  • explain why human needs are important
  • explain how human needs are measured
    • Australian Capital Territory (ACT) population, including its growth and characteristics
    • ACT industry, including the proportions of different industry types
    • waste generation and management
  • examine the environmental footprint of human activity in the ACT
  • summarise government and community responses to the impact of human needs on the environment.

3.2.1 What are human needs?

The traditional list of human needs includes food, water, shelter and clothing. However, in modern society, this list has greatly expanded to take in our needs for education, industry, travel, leisure, and many other sectors and activities.

The satisfaction of human needs relies on the provision of ecosystem services, including:

  • provisioning services, which are the products obtained from ecosystems, including food and fibre, fuel, genetic resources, biochemicals, natural medicines and pharmaceuticals, ornamental resources and fresh water
  • regulating services, which are the benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes, including air quality maintenance, climate regulation, water quantity regulation, water purification, waste treatment, biological control, pollination, erosion control and storm protection
  • cultural services, which are the nonmaterial benefits obtained from ecosystems, such as cultural heritage values, aesthetic values, sense of place, and recreation and ecotourism.

3.2.2 Why are human needs important?

Satisfying human needs affects the environment directly. Population growth (with associated growth in the built environment) and economic growth (with associated increases in resource consumption and waste generation) drive environmental change. Historically, a higher population has generally translated into a higher demand for resources, a larger physical footprint for our settlements and more waste going back into the environment.1

3.2.3 How do we measure human needs?

Although it is not possible to directly measure the impact of fulfilling human needs on the environment, there are accepted indicators used to measure the major socioeconomic drivers of environmental change.2 To assess the state and trends of human needs, ACT State of the Environment reports have adopted the following indicators:

  • population growth
  • population density
  • industry growth and composition
  • waste generation and management
  • consumption patterns and their effects
  • ecological footprint.

The infographic shows the Drivers, Pressures, State and trends, Impacts and Responses (DPSIR) model around which the report is built. It shows that one of the drivers in the model is human needs, including the effects of population growth and density, industry growth and composition, consumption patterns and effects, and waste generation and management.


Medium-density development in Crace Photo: ACT Government

 

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