thinking big a 'whole of landscape' approach to nature...
TRANSCRIPT
BRS SEMINAR SERIES PRESENTS
Friday 13 May
Thinking BigA 'whole of landscape' approach to
nature conservation in Australia
Dr Rob Lesslie - BRSDr Brendan Mackey - ANU
The recently released results of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment have highlighted thescientific basis to widespread public concern with the state of the natural environment and thedegradation of ecosystems and the services they provide. This seminar will argue that part ofthe solution lies in focusing on a long-term ‘whole of landscape’ approach to management fornature conservation - one that maintains the connectivity of key ecological processes atregional, even continental scale. This means integrated conservation management across bothproduction and reserve landscapes.
A key challenge in developing this approach in Australia is recognising and betterunderstanding key ecological processes and environmental flows (including the highly irregularand variable climate and patterns of productivity) in both fragmented and intact landscapes,along with characteristic patterns of land management. The scientific principles underpinningthis approach will be discussed, with an example of its application in an innovative conservationplan in South Australia.
11.00am - 12:00noon (morning tea at 10:45am)Edmund Barton Conference Centre (in the courtyard)
Edmund Barton BuildingKings Avenue, Canberra
Bookings not required.Parking can be a problem, we suggest taking a taxi.
For further details, please call the BRS Seminar Coordinator on 6272 3440.
For further information on BRS Seminars or to obtain papers/presentations supplied by previous seminarpresenters, please visit our website at: www.brs.gov.au/brsseminars
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
- Thinking Big -A 'whole of landscape' approach to
nature conservation in Australia
Brendan Mackey - SRES/ANU
Rob Lesslie - BRS
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
Approaches to Conservation
Conservation science is dominated by minimalist thinking
Dominant protected area criteria deeply flawed, e.g., there is no scientific basis topercentage targets for protected areas
The genetic and ecosystem levels of biodiversity are largely ignored, therefore cannotdeal with ecosystem services
A focus on “species” at expense of habitat and ecosystem processes
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
Minimalist science promotes minimalist policy responses:
e.g., EPBC act minimises the Australian Government’s “policy footprint” by focussingon a subset of threatened species
214[57%]
269[40%]
262[41%]
92[43%]
97[42%]
No. species given any IUCN threat class (except “least concern) accumulated over all jurisdictions plus non- legislative assessments. +
99[26%]
70[10%]
45[7%]
26[12%]
27[12%]
EPBC Act 1999
A national biodiversity crisis demands a phase shift in thinking
We need long term strategic conservation assessment & planning with a horizon of~100+ years” driven by new thinking and an expanded knowledge base
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
Connectivity Principles+
Critical species interactions
Long distance biological movement
Human-forced climate change
Hydroecology
Fire regimes and disturbance
Coastal zone fluxes
Spatially dependent evolutionSoulé, M., Mackey, B., Recher, H., Williams, J., Woinarski, J., Driscoll, D., Dennison, W., and Jones, M. (2004)The role of connectivity in Australian conservation. Pacific Conservation Biology 10: 266-79
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
Analysis of Australian Migratory Vertebrates
ClassNo. spp in Australia
No. migratory
spp
% migratory
spp
Fish freshwater 228 36 16
Frogs 212 2 1
Reptiles
land/freshwater 828 5 0.6
marine 7 7 100
Birds
land/freshwater 677 342 51
marine 158 88 56
Mammals
land/freshwater 323 27 8
marine 56 28 50
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
A “greenhouse world” is a hot and wet worldH
um
ans
arrive
in A
ust
ralia
Low CO2Low temperaturesLow rainfall= low NPP= low biomass= low food supply
High CO2High temperaturesHigh rainfall= high NPP= high biomass= high food supply
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
Conservation management across large,contiguous areas spanning regionally scaledclimatic gradients.
Design connectivity to ensure effectivemovements and fluxes.
Protect regional diversity of ecosystems/habitatand refugia, including high productivity habitats.
NRM to counter threatening processes neededin/out protected areas.
Conservation for Connectivity: key actions
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
Continental Strategic Planning
Landscape productivity
Environmental and ecosystem context
Habitat condition
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
Vegetation productivity
Working towards (i) foliage decomposition analysis and (ii) GPP modelling
Currently analysing time series of remotely sensed greeness index using MODIS to map “productivity domains”
Relevance to wildlife habitat and to production
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
Vegetation productivity classification
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
A climate & terrain classification of Australia
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
Native vegetationcover
Non-native vegetationcover
Increasing human modification
Ass
ets VIVIVIIIIII0
Vegetation Assets, States and Transitions (VAST)
Habitat condition
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
! VASTcover class
Nativecover
0 BareResidual
I Residual
II ModifiedWorking
III Transformed
Non-nativecover
IV/V ReplacedReplacement
VI Removed
Intact
Disturbed
Non-native
Habitat condition classification
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
Habitat condition classification of Australia
Intact
Disturbed
Non-native
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
… with core intact areas
Intact
Disturbed
Non-native
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
Terrain and climate within ‘intact’ habitat class
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
• Protection of core habitat
• Establishment vegetationcorridors
• Integrated feral animal control
• Management of total grazingpressure
• Partnerships
- Reconnecting habitat throughEyre Peninsula to the WA border
Naturelinks
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
Cropping
RangelandsAboriginal /Conservation
Croplands
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
Natural ResourceManagement Regions
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
near Lock, CentralEyre Peninsula
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
• Grazing gradients
• Potential integrateduse for pastoralismand natureconservation
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
S C I E N C E F O R D E C I S I O N M A K E R S
Landscape ecosystem, productivity and conditionanalyses are needed to complement threatened speciesprogrammes.These analyses are required on a landscape-wide basis.A research priority is to identify options for maximising“landscape connectivity” at large scale, across tenures.Regional case studies are underway involving NGOs(TWS-WildCountry, GA; Gondwanalink), StateGovernments and NRM groups.This approach will assist implementation of biodiversityconservation through integrated NRM.
Conclusion