Biodiversity
Invasive Plants and Climate Change
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Invasive plants generally have excellent seed transport mechanisms, often by human activity or by birds, and are likely to spread rapidly into new areas, quickly exploiting changing climatic conditions that favour their establishment. Climate change can therefore be expected to favour invasive plants over established native vegetation, especially if accompanied by an increase in extreme conditions such as droughts alternating with very wet years. |
Biodiversity conservation in regional NRM planning (policysheet)
This policy sheet briefly describes the key findings and outcomes of a research project into enhancing biodiversity conservation in regional natural resource management (NRM) planning. The project identified where biodiversity has been effectively included in regional NRM processes and established an understanding of the critical success factors required for biodiversity conservation based on a review of existing projects and planning processes. Sixteen case studies were conducted to determine the critical success factors and to identify barriers and limitations impeding the adoption of biodiversity conservation practices. The project culminated in the production of a set of practical guidelines that will be useful to a wide range of policy makers and resource managers. The guidelines and case studies provide a sound and accessible framework for policy development, target setting and regional management action (A).
Warnings from the bush : the impact of climate change on the nature of Australia
The problems that climate change causes for wildlife ; Australian animals ; Forests ; Marine ecosystems and species ; Rangelands and Tropical Savannas ; Wetlands, Rivers and Lakes ; The Great Barrier Reef ; Alpine ; Solutions to climate change ; Recommendations ; References.
Climate change impacts on biodiversity in Australia
Outcomes of a workshop sponsored by the Biological Diversity Advisory Committee, 1–2 October 2002, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra. The workshop brought together for the first time researchers and policymakers from all over Australia to assess the issue of climate change in relation to biodiversity in Australia: a growing policy concern. The participants had expertise in the key ecosystems of concern: coral reefs, rainforests, alpine regions, rangelands, grasslands, arid zone, temperate forests, coastal marine systems, rivers, mammals and birds. Presentations were made about these key ecosystems, outlining existing trends in climate, as well as future climate change scenarios (Chapter 2), current understanding of the impacts of climate changes, and likely sensitivities to future impacts (Chapters 1 and 3). The workshop identified potential signs of climate change (Chapter 4), modelling approaches that could improve both predictions of impacts and assessments of possible adaptation strategies (Chapter 5), and possible policy responses (Chapter 6).