Why has Australia's Aboriginal population had limited impact on their environment?

Answer 1

Actually the Aborigine's impact has not been so limited. Since Australia's first wave of settlers arrived at least 40 000 years ago and possibly 60 000+ it is difficult to see just what effect they had on their environment.

There is some evidence which suggests that Australia's megafauna [large animals, now extinct] disappeared in the centuries following man's arrival. Whether this was due to man or climate change or a combination of both is still being debated.

Aboriginals also burnt huge tracts of forest and scrub to expose food and also to create new growth which in turn brings in animals to graze. It is believed that over time this continual burning changed the species of forest trees that once existed into the predominantly eucalyptus forests that exist today.

A later wave of immigrants brought feral animals with them, the dingo has only been present in the continent now known as Australia for about 5000 years. The impact this dog has had on environment is very difficult to gauge, but it must be considerable.

Wherever homo-sapiens have travelled, they have changed their environment to suit themselves. Australia was no exception.