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WetlandCare Australia - Teacher Resources

Drama/Study of Environment and Society

(based on ‘Wetland Dreams and Nightmares’ from WCA (2000) Living with Wetlands – A Community Guide)

Hypotheticals

Discuss with the students different wetland values in relation to the Wetland Complex. Assign each student the role of one of the wetland users as listed below and explore the following situations. Take each situation in turn and discuss whether this might be a ‘Dream Scenario’, ‘Worst Nightmare’ or ‘Scenario of Little Consequence’ for each of the users.

Examine conflicting perspectives and whether these may be resolved.

• A ‘Friends of Wetlands’ group forms to manage a local wetland
• A mosquito plague leads to demands to spray or drain a wetland
• The government guarantees more environmental flows, ie higher than normal level River flows specifically for the environment
• An algal bloom interferes with recreational use of the wetland
• The wetland is opened up for grazing during a drought
• A new weir is installed in the higher reaches of the catchment and used to stabilise wetland water levels
• The council has fenced the vegetation to protect it and public access is now restricted
• A bushfire burns the vegetation around the wetland and along the creek
• Reeds are left to choke the inlet channel connecting the wetland with the main River channel
• A local wetland is declared significant under the Ramsar Convention
• The wetland becomes a centre for eco-tourism activity
• Flow control structures are installed and a drying phase is introduced to the lagoon
• The number and size of native fish being caught by recreational fishers is declining noticeably
• Riparian (fringing the edge of the wetland) is being eaten by rabbits
• Scientists advise that the wetland should be allowed to dry out completely from time to time to maintain biodiversity
• The boardwalk is extended and more recreational facilities are installed

Users of Wetlands

• Birdwatchers
• Picnickers and campers
• Housing developers
• Commercial fisherman
• Tourists
• Duck Hunters
• Recreational water users
• Farmers and graziers
• Scientists, teachers and students
• Local Council