Contents Page

Title Page 1
Contents Page 2
1.0 Introduction 3
2.0 Background 3
3.0 Impacts 3
4.0 Solutions 4
5.0 Recommendations and Conclusions……………………………………………………………………………………..……..4
6.0 Reference List……………………………………………………………………..……………………………………………………….4

1.0 Introduction
Tourists have a significant impact on the environment. A particular problem is tourists affect and damage the environment through the issues of fires. It is important to pay a substantial amount of attention to preventing tourists from starting fires that would affect the Australian environment. Topics that will be expanded on will include: how fire damages the environment; cigarettes put the Australian environment in danger of fire; what the largest cause of fires in Australia is and how this linked with tourism and how tourists contribute to fires through camping and smoking. It is important to find a solution to this issue because fires can be very destructive to the environment. The purpose of this report is to analyse aspects of the topic and evaluate solutions.
2.0 Background
Australia is frequently revenged by bushfires, more so than any other country in the world. Today, bushfires wreak havoc across the land, causing significant amounts of damage, destroying buildings and houses, harming livestock and even killing humans. During the severe 2002-2003 season, there was 5999 bushfires recorded.1 Bushfires in Australia are frequent events during the hotter months of the year, due to Australia’s mostly hot, dry climate.
3.0 Impacts
The intensity of the bushfire dictates the effect on the environment. Severe bushfires can burn all the vegetation in a particular area. When an area is burned out, vegetation is destroyed as it was used by the fire as fuel. Animals are killed in bushfires by high temperatures and suffocation. One of the main factors that lead to bushfires is littered cigarette butts that are carelessly thrown out of cars and disposed of wrong. Australian fire authorities’ council estimate more than 12 fires a day caused by cigarettes or smoking materials. 3
Tourist may not be educated on the topic that bushfires are a serious threat to the Australian land and if they discard cigarette butts carelessly or don’t put out their camp fires properly, they may put the environment in danger of a fire. People travelling to Australia for the first time or even the tenth time, don’t know how serious the issue of fires in Australia is and they might innocently leave their campfire to distinguish itself during the night and they will think they aren’t doing any harm. Camping areas are usually surrounded by bush. This is a popular place for tourists to come and camp because they get the experience of what it is like in the Australian bush. By having a camping ground full of unaware tourists is a risky move. If somehow a fire catches light in the surrounding bush, it can destroy thousands of kilometres of bush and the environment can be severely damaged.
4.0 Solutions
Having designated areas in the bush where tourists can camp is a good idea; however signage needs to be visible so that they make sure that fires are prevented and the environment and surrounding bushland is protected. By making tourists aware and educating them on