What’s Being Done
Vulnerabilities and Management Responses
There are a number of activities being undertaken at State and local level to reduce the vulnerability of communities and natural assets to climate change now and into the future. These are outlined below.
Historically, WA producers have demonstrated innovation and resilience in response to climate variability. Continued warmer, drier and more variable conditions, combined with other non-climate related factors (population changes, economic pressures, etc.) will present an increasing range of interacting challenges that producers will need to adapt to. Anticipated changes are predicted to include: crop and pasture productivity, quality, nutrient cycling, pest and disease activity, livestock production and reproductive rates (Sudmeyer et al, 2016). Changes in the timing of rainfall may be a greater consideration than decline in rainfall. Increasing CO2 concentrations can lead to improved plant water-use efficiency, which may be beneficial in some circumstances.
Management Response:
Technological and scientific advancements
Agronomic and technological advancements, along with the use of cultivars have been used to improve water-use efficiency in broadacre crops, in order to counteract reductions in rainfall.
Management Response:
Revised Water Allocation Plans
The Department of Environment and Water Corporation have accelerated investigations into new water supply sources. They have also developed programs to encourage more efficient use of existing supplies of water.
Management Response:
Inland Aquaculture
Due to potentially adverse conditions developing in the marine environment as a result of climate change, it is possible that aquaculture ventures may be relocated to the mainland where conditions can be greater controlled. There is some potential for aquaculture ponds using saline groundwater, including finfish, algae and brine shrimp. Freshwater species such as yabbies, marron and silver perch have also been successfully produced commercially (Kingwell 2003; Agricultural Western Australia 2000).
Coastal Adaptation and Protection
The Department of Transport (DoT) implemented Coastal Adaptation and Protection (CAP) Grants in response to calls for assistance with coastal management. Grants are available annually to support partnerships between the State Government and local coastal managers undertake projects associated with identifying and adapting to coastal hazards. CAP grants are available for monitoring, adaptation planning, asset management, adaptation and maintenance projects, with the aim of ensuring coastal managers understand and adapt sustainably to coastal hazards for the public benefit. More information is available on the DoT CAP Grants webpage.
A number of coastal LGAs within the NAR are undertaking Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Planning with the community, including the Shire of Irwin, The Shires of Gingin and Dandaragan, and the City of Greater Geraldton
Management Response:
Biodiversity Corridors
Strategic revegetation can help form connections across the landscape that link up areas of habitat and allow for the migration of species and therefore improved resilience. The Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor is Australia’s largest revegetation project based on carbon capture and biodiversity. The project is being undertaken in the NAR by Carbon Neutral. More information is available on the Carbon Neutral website http://carbonneutral.com.au/yarra-yarra-biodiversity-corridor/.
Broader Provenance
Climate change may result in the natural range of a species being altered, and therefore a change of thinking may be required in regards to the level of change in species composition that will be acceptable to the community in the future and focusing on ecosystem function rather than maintenance of individual species in specific locations. The idea of using ‘provenance’ in regards to species may need to be broadened from local to regional (or even cross-regional).
The Aquatic Biosecurity Charter has been established to promote the protection of Western Australia’s oceans and rivers from aquatic pest species. The charter is aimed at all members of the community from industry and community interest groups to individuals. Anyone with an interest in protecting marine and freshwater ecosystems can sign up and agree “to work with the Department of Fisheries, Western Australia, to protect the State’s aquatic environment from pests and diseases”.
To help local governments, NRM and community groups tackle coastal issues, the Department of Planning (DoP) provides assistance through the Coastal Management Plan Assistance Program and Coastwest Program, while the Department of Transport funds the Climate Adaptation and Protection grants program.
Various coastal management practitioners, particularly local/state government agencies, NACC and community groups, either undertake directly or provide funding for coastal projects aimed at improving coastal environments.
A full list of all the coastal plans for the NAR can be found on the Planning WA website for both the Mid West and the Wheatbelt planning regions.