6/24/09- I am now in Alice Springs, which is part of the well known Australian Outback. It is located in the center of Australia where desert landscape dominates. Our first stop was Desert Park, where we went on a bush walk with our tour guide Doug who showed us the plant species that dominate the area such as spinifex and Bloodwood. It was interesting learning about how the aboriginal people would use the landscape and plant species; for example, they used the red sap of the Bloodwood as a skin anesthetic.
Out next stop was Angus Downs where the land was just recently (6/10) signed over to the aboriginal people. We met up with aboriginal elders, one woman and her brother-in-law & they told us how they planned on fencing off some of the land to keep out feral animals, such as the camels, but . They showed us pictures of how camels affect the landscape & it was very dramatic. They do a lot of destruction when they trample on the land & virtually little to no plant life can grow where the roam regularly. The aboriginals also informed us how they plan to create a wildlife sanctuary, nurseries for plant species, and emoo reserves.
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