Living in Change - Sector Issues, Priorities, Needs - Natural Resource Management

1. Living in Change - Sector Issues, Priorities, Needs- Natural Resource Management Dr Libby Mattiske August 2005

2. Natural Resource Management • Sector Issues • literature • past impacts of climatic changes • geological time frame • since European settlement • recent decades • patterns in current systems

3. Natural Resource Management • Sector Issues - Case Studies • Key role of climate • Flora Species • Plant Communities • Fauna Species • Natural Resources

4. Case Study

5. Natural Resource Management • Sector Issues - Case Study • Data Collected - Transect Studies • Water tables in the period from the 1960 to 2005 have changed in the order of 3 to 7 metres. • Tick Flat, Neaves, West Gironde, Lake Joondalup

6. Case Study Tick Flat Yeal Swamp Ridges Yanchep Lake Nowergup Lake Joodalup Neaves West Gironde

7. Natural Resource Management

8. Natural Resource Management • Sector Issues - Case Study • A shift towards the xeric end of the continuum (with both local declines in the trees that tolerate moister soil conditions and an increase in some species that tolerate drier soil conditions). • A general loss of condition of tree species, although this has been offset by the establishment of seedlings on some sites. • Loss of some wetland species and communities. • Recent loss of some drier site species. • Dynamic nature of communities in both temporal and spatial context. • Rate of decline and rate of changes.

9. Natural Resource Management • Sector Issues - Lessons Learnt • The structure and composition of vegetation on the Gnangara Mound reflects underlying determining factors such as landforms, soils, climate and surface soil moisture availability. • As the site becomes drier in a regional context the overstorey becomes more open - so if recent annual rainfall trends continue, it is likely that: • the overstorey will become more open • there will be a continuing shift towards species that tolerate drier site conditions • loss of species and vegetation communities that tolerate wetter and moister sites

10. Natural Resource Management • Priorities • Do we really place sufficient value on these natural resources? • Do we understand implications of potential changes? • Degree and rate of change - positives and negatives • Major gaps in understanding • At a landscape level - changes will occur • Do we understand the implications for Industries dependent on these values? (Wildflowers, Beekeepers, Forestry, Water Catchments, Tourism, Ecosystem Services) • Do we understand the implications for wider community - social consequences of changing landscapes

11. Natural Resource Management • Needs • Increase value of natural resources? • Overcome structural problems in funding and human resources in NRM (Federal, State and Regional groups). • Increase skills and capacity of NRM teams and researchers. • Underpin research organisations with long-term commitment (rather than short term), including adequate resources, succession planning (as studies take many years). • Increase research into studying implications of change • Degree and rate of change - positives and negatives - integrate component into research programs • Integrate databases to maximise return for effort • Undertake a major review of implications for Industries dependent on these natural resource values? (Wildflowers, Beekeepers, Forestry, Water Production, Tourism, Ecosystem Services)