Q4. What are Some Contemporary Issues Surrounding the Wet Tropics?

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Question 4 Activity 4.1: Take Nothing but Photographs
Question 4 Activity 4.2: Leave Nothing but Footprints
Question 4 Activity 4.3: Highways and Heritage?
Question 4 Activity 4.4: Freeways or Treeways?

4.1 Take Nothing but Photographs

Write an essay …that examines the impact of visitors on the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

Questions to ask yourself
• Who VISITS the Wet Tropics?
• What ACTIVITIES do these visitors participate in while in the Wet Tropics?
• What POSITIVE IMPACTS do visitors have on the Wet Tropics?
• What NEGATIVE IMPACTS do visitors have on the Wet Tropics?
• What is the ECONOMIC BENEFIT of tourism in the Wet Tropics to local communities?
• Who MANAGES the impact of visitors in the Wet Tropics?
• How are visitors and their impacts MANAGED?

Conditions
Try to address all the questions above.
Length: 300 – 400 words.
Include a bibliography of the sources you used.
Ensure you use the essay genre.

Focus Question: Are tourists ‘loving the rainforest to death’?

4.2 Leave Nothing But Footprints

Hold a debate … that examines the impact of visitors on the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

Questions to ask yourself
• Who VISITS the Wet Tropics?
• What ACTIVITIES do these visitors participate in while in the Wet Tropics?
• What POSITIVE IMPACTS do visitors have on the Wet Tropics?
• What NEGATIVE IMPACTS do visitors have on the Wet Tropics?
• What is the ECONOMIC BENEFIT of tourism in the Wet Tropics to local communities?
• Who MANAGES the impact of visitors in the Wet Tropics?
• How are visitors and their impacts MANAGED?

Conditions
Minimum of two students, maximum of six students.
Length: 2 – 3 minutes per student.
Try to address all the questions above.
All research is to be conducted as a group.
Present your debate in front of an audience.
Include a bibliography of the sources you used.
Ensure you use the debate genre.

Focus Question: What impact do growing communities have on the Wet Tropics?

4.3 Highways and Heritage

Write an essay …that examines the impact of the Kuranda Range Road upgrade (or another local issue) on the Wet Tropics and surrounding communities.

Questions to ask yourself
• What are some reasons FOR the Kuranda Range Road upgrade?
• Which groups SUPPORT the Kuranda Range Road upgrade and what are their reasons?
• What are some reasons AGAINST the Kuranda Range Road upgrade?
• Which groups OPPOSE the Kuranda Range Road upgrade and what are their reasons?
• What IMPACT does the Wet Tropics Management Authority consider the road will have on the Wet Tropics?
• What do other IMPACT studies say about effect of the road on World Heritage?
• How are LOCAL PEOPLE able to influence the decision making process?

Conditions
Try to address all the questions above.
Length: 300 – 400 words.
Include a bibliography of the sources you used.
Ensure you use the essay genre.

Focus Question: What impact do growing communities have on the Wet Tropics?

4.4 Freeways or Treeways?


Hold a debate …that examines the impact of the Kuranda Range Road upgrade on the Wet Tropics and surrounding communities.

Questions to ask yourself
• What are some reasons FOR the Kuranda Range Road upgrade?
• Which groups SUPPORT the Kuranda Range Road upgrade and what are their reasons?
• What are some reasons AGAINST the Kuranda Range Road upgrade?
• Which groups OPPOSE the Kuranda Range Road upgrade and what are their reasons?
• What IMPACT does the Wet Tropics Management Authority consider the road will have on the Wet Tropics?
• What do other IMPACT studies say about effect of the road on World Heritage?
• How are LOCAL PEOPLE able to influence the decision making process?

Conditions
Minimum of two students, maximum of six students.
Length: 2 – 3 minutes per student.
Try to address all the questions above.
All research is to be conducted as a group.
Present your debate in front of an audience.
Include a bibliography of the sources you used.
Ensure you use the debate genre.