Millennium Ecosystem AssessmentMillennium Ecosystem Assessment

Northern Australia floodplain andNorthern Australia floodplain andcoastal wetlandscoastal wetlands

Max FinlaysonMax Finlayson

National Centre for Tropical Wetland Research

Darwin, NT

Northern Australia floodplain andNorthern Australia floodplain andcoastal wetlandscoastal wetlands

AimParticipation

Geographic Region / LocationData sources / Scale

ComponentsNext steps

AimAim

Provide information on the floodplain and coastal ecosystems and their services at multiple scales and taking into account multiple pressures

Geographic Region / LocationGeographic Region / Location

Northern Australia – east of DarwinCoastal biogeographic regionAlligator Rivers – 28 000 km2

Catchments of three riversKakadu National Park – World Heritage

& Ramsar listed

Geographic Region / LocationGeographic Region / Location

ParticipationParticipation

Discussed through existing panels, boards

• Biophysical scientists• Social scientists• Management agencies• Local community / indigenous• Private sector

Data sourcesData sources

• Information derived from current or planned projects

• Biophysical features – extensive; ready access

• Social/cultural features – extensive; discuss access

• Floodplain services – variable; derived from biophysical data and managers

• Pressures – extensive analyses; risk assessments underway

ScaleScale

• Biogeographical or catchment scale 1:100 000 to 1:250 000

• Catchment scales 1:50 000 to 1:100 000

• Habitats / river reaches 1:10 000

ComponentsComponents

• Inventory/mapping – GIS multiple scale• Floodplain services – indigenous,

biodiversity, tourism, recreation (fish stocks, mitigation of climate change, cattle grazing)

• Risk assessment of major pressures – invasive species, water pollution, infrastructure, burning, climate change

10Basic (“Core”) dataset

stored in Database with GIS Interface

Location; physico-chemical and biological features (ecologicalcharacter); land tenure; land use; management issues and threats...

Level 4

Wetland habitat

Location; altitude; area;land systems; climate; hydrology;

vegetation

Level 2

Wetland region1:250 000

Location; physico-chemical and biological features; classification; jurisdiction; ecosystem

services

Level 3Wetland complex

1:50 000

Hierarchical approach to wetland inventory

Geology; climate;

landcover

Level 1

River basin or island

1:1 000 000

Scale (nominal)

The Risk The Risk Assessment Assessment FrameworkFramework(modified from van Dam et al. 1999; Ramsar 2000)

Major pressuresMajor pressures

Major pressures – insidious effects of Major pressures – insidious effects of climate changeclimate change

Next stepsNext steps

Further consultation – with participants, advisors and stakeholders

Collation / analysis – based on previous and current projects

Communication – discussing and finalising analyses and outcomes

Thank youThank you