Future Prospects of the Outback Given Current Trends: The Negative Outlook

Many disagree on what will happen to the Outback in the future. Generally, there are two arguments. The first is that the same problems that have plagued the Outback historically will worsen until biodiversity and environmental conditions have fallen greatly. Just 20 years ago, nearly half of all mammal extinctions globally came from Australia (Short 288). The Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine) provides us with an example of what might happen to the endangered animals in Australia if they are not property taken care of. In the early 1900s, the Tasmanian Tiger was already extinct in the Australian mainland. Despite this, Tasmania still offered bounties for killing them. This resulted in their completely extinction. Indeed, if Australia treats its endangered animals now as it did the Tasmanian Tiger, there is little hope that the Outback's biodiversity will be preserved in the future.

Tasmanian Tiger, extinct during the 20th century

(Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thylacinus_cynocephalus)

The Example of the Aboriginals

The destructive force humans have on new areas can not only affect animals and plant life, but also other humans. The aboriginal natives, indigenous to the lands of Australia for thousands of years, were negatively affected by the entry of Westerners into the Outback. Westerners, who often thought of these natives as backward and uncivilized, caused the massive decrease and dispersion of aboriginal populations.

(Image Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9O7rGMpozKA/TVxp2kD3e4I/AAAAAAAAAa0/-APxVtgYRt8/s1600/outback+aborigines.jpg)

Ancient Extinctions: Megafauna
Some may underestimate the influence of humans on ecosystems such as the one found in Australia's Outback. We can see from history, however, that this idea is without merit. Paul Martin's overkill hypothesis presents evidence that humans have historically been the cause of extinctions for many large animals (megafauna) throughout the entire world (Mosimann 304). In Australia in particular, evidence suggests that megafauna such as Procoptodon Goliah (the largest kangaroo to exist) were eaten by humans into extinction. Presently, it is important for humans to understand that importance of keeping ecosystems healthy so as to preserve diversity.

Procoptodon Goliah

(Image source: http://www.abc.net.au/science/features/megafauna/)