Indigenous peoples 

Can you think of a place in nature where you live that makes you feel like you really love being out in nature? It might be your favourite track through the bush along the creek, or the beach, or the river.  That feeling you get is called a 'connection'. 

Indigenous people like the Dharawal people of the Illawarra and the Dayak people in Borneo feel a deep and spiritual connection to the land.  They respect all living things and they understand how living things depend on each other for survival.  They also understand that as humans living off the land, they are a part of the environment (not separate to it) and should not take too much or destroy anything. 

• Play the video beside and listen to the Dayak person from Borneo describe his connection with the rainforest.  

• Draw a picture of you in the place where you feel 'connected' to nature.  Include the natural features around you and also include words that describe how you feel when you are in this place.

Dairy farmers in the Illawarra

When Europeans arrived in Australia the most important thing for them was to make farms so they could have food.  In order to encourage grass to grow, farmers cleared much of the forest.

Oil palm farmers have very little money compared to the owners of the companies they work for.  Making enough money to feed their families is the most important thing for them. 

Cedar Industry in the Illawarra

Early European settlers needed timber to make buildings and the gum trees were very hard to cut. Cedar trees were just right so the most important thing for the Ceder felling companies was to cut down as many of these trees as possible. 

It is easier for palm oil companies to clear forests, rather than degraded areas or grasslands, for economic reasons. They don’t need add as much chemical fertiliser (which is expensive) to forest land cleared by fire and fertilised from ash produced by the fire.