I have lived many years in the same rural bushland area of New South Wales. Over those years, much of it has been cleared of native vegetation for livestock grazing purpose, foreign grasses have been introduced, tons of insecticide and super- phosphate have been air sprayed over large areas.
Impact on the environment is less obvious, slower than in feedlots depending on general conditions but it is still heartbreakingly devastating.
I have seen pristine bush being eroded beyond rehabilitation, turned into hectares of thistles and other weeds due to change in soil PH, small watercourses disappear, depleted at their source by large herds of thirsty cattle or trampled into stinky areas of ooze where livestock congregates, defecates and urinates.
Once upon a time, one of these clear gushing creeks ran through my place. I used to grow watercress there, drink its water and cool down in rock pools on hot summer days. My daughter used to collect tadpoles and watch them turn into tiny frogs to be released back where they came from.
Would be cattle barons neighbors moved in "next door". Now the creek has stopped running. It is a smelly, marshy mess where no life can survive....so toxic that it cannot be used to water the garden.
I have seen wildlife disappear further up the mountain, always just one step ahead of encroaching bulldozers. I wish I could do the same.
Unfortunately, speaking up is useless as the meat industry has priority over environmental concerns. It has a lot of supporters....and few witnesses to its long term consequences who are not themselves part of the process.
