Dairy Farming and Water Pollution in New Zeeland
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Dairy Farming and Water Pollution in New Zeeland
Introduction
There is an increasing concern about water pollution in the region of Auckland in New Zeeland. In this region, 63% of water bodies have been polluted. There have been dairy farming activities around this region, which have resulted in dirty dairying, which pollutes ecological water bodies. An increase in population has been associated with a high rate of water pollution in that region due to some local activities like the drainage of dairy farm waste products into this region (Weir, 2018). These activities currently pressurize freshwater quality. Therefore in this research paper, I will focus on the social/sustainability issue of dairy farming and water pollution in Auckland in New Zeeland as a problem in that region. I will propose an action that would be better used to address and curb the issue of water pollution, how it could lead to sustainability in the future, and the foreseen challenges about the action plan.
Literature review
It is very evident that the scale and intensity of dairy farming in Auckland in New Zeeland have placed massive pressure on the freshwater body sources and also pollution of ecological water bodies by the release of harmful and toxic materials into the water sources (Wilcock, 2019). This has triggered the change and potential of these water bodies and hence influencing the uses and values of the society that ascribe to relate to water. Therefore resource management has sought to address the issue of quality water. Dairying farming in Auckland has been releasing nitrogen components in water sources. This has influenced society in many social, cultural, and economical ways. Concerning environmental values, water pollution has resulted in the dryness of the land as some plants cannot withstand such acidic waters. Inadequate rains in the area have also occurred. Economically, the locals are unable to crop commercially as the water cannot facilitate the growth of the crops. Culturally, indigenous products are becoming extinct as they cannot survive the region’s deteriorating conditions (Willis, 2017). That is clear evidence that the social issue has impacted the sustainability of lives in this region as people cannot sustain their indigenous crops, economic status, and environmental ecology destructed.
The methodology of the investigation
Since I was requested to report on dairy farming and water pollution in Auckland as a social problem in that region, I chose this social issue as I had previously had experience in the area, where I had some photos which show more evidence that water pollution has been a very significant issue in this region both economically, socially, culturally, and environmentally (Barnett, 2018).
Results from the investigation
On taking a visit to Auckland village in New Zeeland, I was able to see the scale and extend in which dairy farming has resulted in water pollution in this region. I interviewed some of the village headmen in the area, and they gave me enough statistics that provide evidence of the case. 63% of rivers in the Auckland region have been turned to unhealthy water now because some of the dairy farms have resulted in dirty dairying, which pollutes ecological water bodies (Watanabe, 2017). There have been increased people around the river banks who practice dairy farming in this region, and this intensive scale of agriculture has put pressure on the water sources increasing water pollution. The farms have been seen as excreting nitrogen compounds and other harmful elements to the water sources. This affects the region’s social, cultural, environmental, and economic values attributed to these water bodies (Ledgard, 2018).
From the photograph above, it is evident that water pollution has turned the region of Auckland to be a dry area. The picture above shows how the indigenous plants are becoming extinct due to the issues of a toxic substance into water sources (Verwood, 2020). These substances have not been favorable for the growth of crops in the area. For example, in this region, particularly in the picture, there used to be species of lancewood and Kauri, but now they have become of no existence in the area. This has impacted the environmental values of Auckland. The region which was used to be preferred for settlement due to its natural ecological state is now becoming the worst region to settle in. The picture is definite proof of what the headmen told me (Campbell, 2018).
The above picture offers good evidence of the research as it exposes how the dairy farms have been directing their waste products into the region (Dinsdale, 2017). This is one of the main rivers in Auckland, which has been used to sustain a massive population in this region. Economic sustainability has been impacted by this social problem as some of the waste products are harmful to commercial crops like rimu and totara. The vegetables used to sustain the lives of the communities in this region have now gone extinct. Again tourism has been affected in this area as most of the tourism artifacts were the freshwater bodies and thick forests, which currently do not exist in the region. Their cultural value is lost when they don’t grow the first crops again in this region.
The above picture again provides evidence of dairy farming pollution in most rivers of the Auckland region. This is clear proof that the headmen had the facts as it is very accurate 63% of the rivers in this region have been polluted. The rate of Nitrogen in the rivers is very high. Nitrogen gas is harmful, particularly to human beings because when breathed in, it displaces oxygen in the lungs and may even result in deaths. This has been another social challenge in the region of Auckland, as most of the communities are now living in a horrible part. This has again resulted in human migrations to the other areas where people can experience good and favoring environments that have not been polluted with such harmful gases (Belshaw, 2017).
Proposed action
From my experience with the proper evidence in the on the social issue of dairy farming and water pollution in the region of Auckland in New Zeeland. I have proposed an action plan which is based on social sciences, and that can contribute to the sustainability of Auckland’s environmental, cultural, economic, and social values, which are attributed to water. The action is focused on strengthening Auckland regional management of freshwater and offering tools and solutions that councils and local members can adopt for different local conditions about water bodies. The specific action plans include;
Leadership and partnerships
This is one action that should be established as soon as possible and focus on creating a leadership team reporting to the ministers for the environment and of agriculture. This group will have to partner with the regional government of Auckland and the dairy farming industries, the social science agencies, providers, and rural communities in this region. This action plan of leadership and partnerships will address or advise on the priority that should be accorded to different water management issues and the methods to address them across the region of Auckland (Vopel, 2017).
National direction
The national direction is another proposal action plan I identify which should scope and draft some issues concerning the water management in the region of Auckland in New Zeeland. Firstly, this national direction action plan should develop the National Policy Statement on managing increased water pollution, social migrations, and environmental impacts from the dirty dairying practices of the farms. Secondly, the national direction has to draft National Environment Standard for the tools and methods for measuring water use and freshness. And thirdly, the national direction should set National Environmental Standard on techniques of sustaining the environment and ensuring all the social, cultural, and economic values of the communities in this region and which are attributed to the water are maintained and protected. Again, it should consider the potential value of and options for a national policy statement on nutrients and other microbial contaminants in the water bodies like in the rivers in Auckland (Baker, 2018).
National priorities
In this action plan, I propose that there should be identified the water catchments and rivers which are at risk of being polluted by the discharge of dairy farming discharges. After identifying them, a criterion has to be set up to determine the national outstanding natural water bodies among those at risk of being polluted. This will ensure that policies are passed to the dairy farmers on how to dispose of their harmful microbial compounds and other contaminants.
Tools to help Auckland councils
This is another basic action plan which would ensure that methodologies for environmental sustainability are improved, develop methods to identify and protect a natural character like the indigenous plant species, and develop procedures for better alignment of science priorities and programs.
Challenges foreseen for action plans.
There are foreseen challenges that the action plan may face in the future. For instance, there could be long-term effects of the contaminants, which were once directed into the water bodies that are not in motion like dams and lakes. This will make it challenging to sustain some cultural values like the growth of indigenous crops (Hoare, 2019). Again, for the national direction policies, some dairy farmers may not fully adhere to them and engage in other dangerous ways to dump their contaminants. This will challenge the action plan in ensuring the sustainability of regional social, cultural, and environmental values.
How would the proposed plan contribute to more sustainability in the future?
The action would contribute to sustainability in the future as it will improve water quality and efficient use of fresh water through the creation and partnership enhancement with Auckland’s regional government. This will be maintained forever by these partnerships hence promoting sustainability in the environmental, cultural, and economic values of the region in the future (Anderson, 2016). Through the national direction, the National Policy Statement on managing increased water pollution, social migrations, and environmental impacts from the dirty dairying practices of the farm will contribute to the sustainability of local economic and ecological values like the excellent climate and encouraging or reviving growth of indigenous crops in this region. Another way through which sustainability in the future will be promoted is through the national priorities action plan; once this is implemented, then the rivers at risk of being polluted by the dairy farms will be identified, and policies on how to use those water bodies will be passed. This will prevent further pollution and, hence, protect the indigenous crop farming, promoting settlements in the region, and favoring socio-economic relations among the communities in the region. This will help sustain the part in later ways (Fredrick, 2016).
Discussions
Linking the shreds of evidence of the social problem with the values of the Auckland region communities with the proposed action, it is clear that if the 63% of water bodies polluted has been a threat to the communities as a lot of environmental, cultural and also economic values have been interfered with. Some of these values include the socio-economic values for commercial crops, which is now becoming extinct. This could be revived by creating a leadership team reporting to the ministers for the environment and of agriculture. These partners with the regional government of Auckland and the dairy farming industries, the social science agencies, providers, and rural communities in this region will address the priorities that should be accorded with different water management issues and could help sustain water bodies and freshwater (Davis, 2016). The national direction, the tools to help Auckland councils, and national priorities are part of the action plan, which would help remove water pollution in the area by providing policies that should control different water sources in the region of Auckland. This will be important as it will facilitate the natural values of the regions, promoting settlement in the region, promoting indigenous cultural crops, and promoting socio-economic values of communities in the region.
Conclusion
In conclusion, dairy farming has pressured water bodies in New Zeeland, particularly the Auckland region, where it has resulted in 63% of water bodies. This social problem has pressed some cultural, environmental, and economic values. An action plan should be implemented, including steps like the national direction, which would lead to the sustainability of the regional values. Although the action plan proposed might be faced by a couple of challenges, it will be good to contribute to sustainability in the future. Therefore I recommend the proposed plan to be taken and implemented to ensure future sustainability in Auckland, New Zeeland.
References
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