Proceedings of the NPWS Advisory Committee Annual ... · Stakeholder Liaison Officer Stakeholder...

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Advisory Committee Annual Conference 2005

Proceedings

Mercure Hotel Sydney Airport, Sydney

13–15 May 2005

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Compiled by Robyn Roche Stakeholder Liaison Officer Stakeholder Liaison and Reporting Unit Phone (02) 9585 6084 Fax (02) 9585 6544 Email: [email protected] Published by: Department of Environment and Conservation NSW 59–61 Goulburn Street Sydney PO Box A290 Sydney South 1232 Phone: (02) 9995 5000 (switchboard) Phone: 131 555 (information and publications requests) Phone: 1300 361 967 (national parks information and publications requests) Fax: (02) 9995 5999 TTY: (02) 9211 4723 Email: [email protected] Website address: www.environment.nsw.gov.au The National Parks and Wildlife Service is now a part of the Department of Environment and Conservation. The Department of Environment and Conservation NSW is pleased to allow this material to be reproduced in whole or in part, provided the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are acknowledged. ISBN 1 74137 693 9 DEC 2005/574 September 2005

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CONTENTSFRIDAY 13 MAY 2005 ........................................................................................................................ 5

Field Trip........................................................................................................................................... 5

Pre-Dinner Drinks with Minister Debus.................................................................................... 6

SATURDAY 14 MAY 2005................................................................................................................. 7

Official Opening and Addresses.................................................................................................. 7

Welcome to Country .................................................................................................................... 7

Welcome and Overview .............................................................................................................. 7

Address by the Director General, Lisa Corbyn ........................................................................ 8

Address by the Deputy Director General Parks and Wildlife Division ............................. 11

Morning Session: Climate Change ............................................................................................ 12

Guest speakers ............................................................................................................................ 12

How Can we be Sure that Greenhouse Mitigation Measures are Working? (Dr Roger Francey) ....................................................................................................................................... 13

Climate Change and Biodiversity in NSW (Dr Lesley Hughes).......................................... 25

The Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity Management (Dr Michael Dunlop) ..... 34

Bushfires and Climate Change (Dr Geoff Cary) ................................................................... 38

Alien Species and Climate Change (Dr Paul Downey) ........................................................ 46

Afternoon Session: Implications of Climate Change for Your Region............................... 51

Panel Discussion......................................................................................................................... 51

Group Discussion ....................................................................................................................... 51

Central Branch Discussion on Climate Change: Peter Stevens............................................ 52

Northern Branch Discussion on Climate Change: Sue Elks ................................................. 59

Southern Branch Discussion on Climate Change: Stuart McMahon .................................. 62

Western Branch Discussion on Climate Change: Lynn Webber.......................................... 65

SUNDAY 15 MAY 2005 .................................................................................................................... 68

First Morning Session: Engaging the Community.................................................................. 68

Guest Speakers............................................................................................................................ 68

Regional Advisory Committees’ Discussion Paper: People Helping Parks (Diana Hoffman)...................................................................................................................................... 68

Community Support for National Parks (Dene Cordes) ...................................................... 76


Engaging the Community: Blue Group – Lynn Webber ...................................................... 83

Engaging the Community: Green Group – Peter Stevens .................................................... 85

Engaging the Community: Purple Group – Stuart McMahon............................................. 87

Engaging the Community Red Group – Sue Elks.................................................................. 89

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Second Morning Session: the Year in Review ......................................................................... 90

Advisory Council Report .......................................................................................................... 90


Central Branch Discussion on the Year in Review: Peter Stevens....................................... 93

Northern Branch Discussion on the Year in Review: Sue Elks ............................................ 94

Southern Branch Discussion on the Year in Review: Stuart McMahon.............................. 95

Western Branch Discussion on the Year in Review: Lynn Webber..................................... 96

Closing Address............................................................................................................................. 98

Poem by Patricia Giles ............................................................................................................... 98

Evaluation Form Survey............................................................................................................ 99

Planning Committee for 2006 ................................................................................................. 103

List of Conference Delegates .................................................................................................... 104

Friday 13 May 2005

FIELD TRIP On Friday afternoon thirty delegates travelled to Botany Bay National Park North, where we were met at La Perouse Museum by Discovery Ranger Dave Thompson. Dave conducted a tour of Bare Island Fort, which was built in 1885 to protect ‘Sydney’s back door’, Botany Bay, although no guns were ever fired in anger from the Island.

We finished our tour at the Museum, where we enjoyed a hearty afternoon tea, and we were able to view the various exhibits in the Museum, including a complete set of prints from the Atlas of the Journal of the 1785–1788 Laperouse expedition.

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PRE-DINNER DRINKS WITH MINISTER DEBUS Minister Debus spent approximately one hour enjoying a drink and nibblies whilst chatting with members of the various regional advisory committees and also members of the National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council.

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Saturday 14 May 2005

OFFICIAL OPENING AND ADDRESSES

Chair: Bob Conroy, Director Central Branch

Welcome to Country Delegates were welcomed by Merv Ryan, a representative of the Dharawal Aboriginal Community. Merv was accompanied by Ray Ingrey, who played the didgeridoo as part of our welcome.

Welcome and Overview

Chair: Bob Ross, Far South Coast Region Advisory Committee Bob Ross, a member of the 2005 Planning Committee, welcomed the Director General, Advisory Committee delegates, Advisory Council delegates and NPWS staff. Bob also provided an overview of the program for the Conference, noting the themes of climate change and engaging the community.

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Address by the Director General, Lisa Corbyn

IntroductionThank you, Merv, for your welcome to country. I would like to pay my respects to the traditional owners of country, the Bidigal people and their elders. It is an honour to be welcomed and provided with an opportunity to extend a hand of friendship across all Australians and to encourage and develop long-term involvement of community members.

Since I last saw many of you at the Regional Advisory Committee Conference in November 2003 at Jindabyne a lot has happened! We have had a reconstitution of all the Regional Advisory Committees. There are now 18 Committees and other specialist committees, such as the Arakwal Advisory Committee, and later this year we will be constituting the new Berowra Valley Regional Park Advisory Committee. And I have had a lot more time and experience in this job than the one month in the job back in 2003. What has struck me has been the substantial and impressive role of the RACs and the very constructive role you play in Park Management. It’s a real partnership that I have seen.

So congratulations to all committee members on your appointment, and in particular the members taking up positions for the first time. We look forward to working with you over the next 4 years.

We really do value the Regional Advisory Committees as a source of advice to us at a local and State level to help us do the best job possible, in managing our parks and reserves.

And a lot more has happened over the last 18 months – we’ve had some significant achievements that I wanted to touch on. First:

¶ Passed the major milestone of 6 million hectares in the reserve system

¶ Finalising the Lord Howe Island Marine Parks Zoning Plan

¶ After many years of negotiation we completed the hand-back of Mt Grenfell to the Aboriginal Community.

¶ Revamped Threatened Species legislation in the context of the NRM and Planning reforms, to be more practical in its implementation.

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And most recently:

¶ Government decision on Brigalow Belt addition to the reserve system

¶ Towra Point– favourite and most frustrative projects– secretary of Environmental Trust—provided dollars – what a saga: the Great Sandbag Wall.

All of which gives a stronger voice to conservation in NSW and strengthens our regulatory approach across the full range of environmental and conservation issues across the State.

¶ We’ve also worked hard to bring together the fantastic knowledge and science base across the Minister’s portfolio. – this includes experience and skills in conservation and social and cultural research, as

well as the great plant science from the BGT; the interactions there have been a real boost.

¶ And we are clearly starting to see the gains emerging from providing a one-stop environment shop for a range of customer services. – information – websites – publications – reporting and taking legal action on incidents related to both environment and cultural

heritage

¶ But it has been a turbulent time for us in setting up the new Department and achieving the significant budget savings of $20 million that were set for us. It has been hard, but I think we are travelling fairly well at this point.

¶ Of course, different divisions faced different outcomes from budget savings. During this process we were determined to minimise the impacts on, and maintain, park management functions. Parks and Wildlife Division had to achieve savings of 5%, while some other areas (like Sustainability Programs) took a cut of over 25%.

¶ And I want to put on record the fantastic job that Tony Fleming has been doing in his work with Treasury to really demonstrate to them the needs of the Park system. It is because of his strategic approach to the Protected Area Establishment Strategy and taking Treasury officers out into the field that I think they will recognise Parks needs in the upcoming budget on 24 May – even with the tight constraints that the NSW budget is obviously facing. Don’t get me started on the concept of cooperative federalism.

¶ In the broader restructure process we have looked carefully at where functions should sit in the Department.

¶ We have pulled the bulk of our regulatory functions into one area – the new Environment Protection and Regulatory Division.

¶ This has meant that the regulatory functions to do with natural and cultural heritage are in EPRD (with the exception of the more localised wildlife management), and this Division has been leading the legislative reforms in threatened species.

¶ We have also been working to achieve a stronger engagement across the agency in the government’s NRM and planning reform agendas. But that is a whole separate conference in itself – way too many things than I can discuss today.

¶ We have put a lot of work into our role to achieve the Government’s Aboriginal strategy called Two Ways Together, as we Chair the Culture and Heritage Cluster.

¶ We are working with the Department of Lands and other agencies on a framework for the negotiation of Indigenous Land Use Agreements with Aboriginal communities.

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¶ And, of course, while we have Aboriginal people on our Advisory committees and the Advisory Council, we are also to have an Aboriginal and Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee constituted this year. Two members of that Committee will also serve on the Advisory Council.

Future directions Over the last year and a half Parks has put a significant effort into several new and important strategic initiatives, including the:

¶ Protected Area Establishment Strategy

¶ State of the Parks reporting

¶ Living Parks.

I want to touch on one in particular, and that is the development of a Future Directions Statement which has involvement across the whole Department. It is being designed to make sure our park and reserve system is one of the world’s best.

Future Directions falls into five key areas:

1. Establishing an outstanding protected area system

We want to build the State's terrestrial and marine park system, to make sure it conserves viable samples of all the State’s ecosystems.

2. Excellence in managing the park system

We want to develop a Park Management Framework that defines our values and objectives and integrates policy, planning, research, funding, monitoring and evaluation. It covers such broad issues as finalising ‘Living Parks (the strategic policy and planning framework to direct visitor and tourism planning in the park system) through to rolling out a comprehensive asset management system.

3. Wildlife Management, which encompasses managing our native plants and animals.

Tony Fleming is leading a cross-Departmental process that is reviewing our wildlife management approach, including our licensing roles, to make sure it is appropriate and focused.

We will continue to implement Recovery and Threat Abatement Plans to conserve wildlife both within and outside the park system, which, under the new Threatened Species amendments, will be more focused and have a clear sense of priority.

Where native animals are a threat to rural production, we continue to work hard to make sure appropriate control options are in place.

4. Expanding our park management knowledge, skills and capacity

This theme emphasizes improvements in our learning, skills, and recruitment programs and building the appropriate scientific knowledge and understanding to advance conservation. This in turn emphasizes the need for continuous improvement in information, data and knowledge management systems that support park planning and management and wildlife management.

Topical for your next session, this knowledge process needs to identify the impact climate change may have on park management practices and needs to come up with practical responses.

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5. Relationships for conservation

The long-term future of our parks depends on us promoting community involvement in park management and park use. Parks need to be valued as a community resource.

And it emphasizes partnerships:

¶ with aboriginal communities, developing effective co-management arrangements, and

¶ to link with private conservation initiatives: VCAs, CMA work, etc.

It is vital that our work continues to integrate park management programs for fire, pest and weed control with complementary programs covering all tenures of local land – hopefully on a catchment basis.

These five key areas identify our ‘Future Directions thinking’ at this point and provide some very exciting food for thought as you deal with the issues facing advisory committees across the State. The stimulating issues you are discussing at this conference – climate change and people helping parks – will undoubtedly influence the Future Directions of our parks.

I hope you have a productive and enjoyable time here today.

And it helps me to maintain my focus when I remember that we haven’t inherited our environment from our parents: we have borrowed it from everyone’s children. Perhaps that thought will help you, too.

Address by the Deputy Director General Parks and Wildlife Division Dr Tony Fleming, Deputy Director General Parks and Wildlife Division, welcomed all delegates to the Conference. He provided a State of the Parks update and details of its launch. Dr Fleming also spoke about the park management system and updated delegates with information about positions and the new structure of the Parks and Wildlife Division of the Department of the Environment and Conservation.

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MORNING SESSION: CLIMATE CHANGE

Chair: Dr George McKay, member of Hunter Region Advisory Committee the NPW Advisory Council

Guest speakers Five guest speakers addressed the Conference on various aspects of climate change:

¶ Dr Roger Francey: How Can we be Sure that Greenhouse Mitigation Measures are Working?

¶ Dr Lesley Hughes: Climate Change and Biodiversity in NSW

¶ Dr Michael Dunlop: The Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity Management

¶ Dr Geoff Cary; Bushfires and Climate Change

¶ Dr Paul Downey: Alien Species and Climate Change

The presentations of these speakers are given below.

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How Can we be Sure that Greenhouse Mitigation Measures are Working?

Guest speaker: Dr Roger Francey

HOW CAN WE BE SURE THAT GREENHOUSE

MITIGATION MEASURES ARE WORKING?

Roger FranceyPost-Retirement Research Fellow

CSIRO Atmospheric Research, Australia

Detecting and attributing change in global atmospheric CO2 levels

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) entered into force in 1994 to Change (UNFCCC) entered into force in 1994 to ::

“address one of the most urgent environmental problems facing mankind…”

with an ultimate objectivewith an ultimate objective

“…to achieve stabilisation of atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases at levels that would prevent dangerous (anthropogenic) interference with the climate system…”.

Projected global warming (IPCC) 1.4 to 5.8ºC by 2100

How Can we be Sure that Greenhouse Mitigation Measures are Working?: DR ROGER FRANCEY

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1997: Kyoto Protocol (COP3)1997: Kyoto Protocol (COP3)Come into force February 2005!Come into force February 2005!

Even with full compliance, there is no mechanism within the Protocol for requiring that the sum of national emission estimates is consistent with the well-determined global atmospheric growth rates of GHGs.

At COP3, advice sought from the Intergovernmental At COP3, advice sought from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggested:Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggested:

“comparison with atmospheric measurements at local, regional and global scales……are options that may provide useful information on the validity of emission estimates”.

Global carbon dioxide concentrations: IPCC scenarios

Source:U

KC

IP

2005

The talk will :Ç Explore past CO2 variability that might complicate the early identification/verification of global trends

Ç Discuss CO2 monitoringrequirements over the coming century(Focus on the CSIRO LoFlo CO2 Analyser)


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Antarctic Ice Cores – New Data

David Etheridge and Cecilia McFarlane (Pers. Comm. Jan 05)

0 500 1000 1500 2000year

260

280

300

320

340

CO

2 (p

pm)

DSS

DE08

DE08-2

Etheridge et al. 1996

CO2 and NH Temperature

270

280

290

300

310

CO

2 (p

pm)

-0.1

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

CO

2 GR

OW

TH

(pp

m/y

r)

0 400 800 1200 1600 2000

0 400 800 1200 1600 2000year

-0.5

-0.4

-0.3

-0.2

-0.1

Tem

pera

ture

Ano

mal

y (o

C)

CO2 Growth Rate Variation

Atmospheric data from SIO, CMDL, CSIRO.Allan, R. J., and D'Arrigo, R. D. (1999). 'Persistent' ENSO sequences: how unusual was the 1990-1995 El-Niño? Holocene, 9 (1): 101-118.

1800 1850 1900 1950 2000year

-1

0

1

2

3

CO

2 gr

owth

(pp

m y

r-1)

Atmospheric (monthly)Ice Core (75y)Ice Core (30y)Persistent ENSO

David Etheridge and Cecilia McFarlane (Pers. Comm. Jan 05)

Antarctic Ice Cores - New Data

1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000year

300

320

340

360

380

CO

2 (p

pm)

new DE08

Cape Grim

Etheridge et al. 199675y spline

de08 firn

dss


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Calibrating the firn diffusion model

Radiocarbon bomb pulse in Law Dome ice and firn

-500

50100150200250300350

400450500550600650700

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000Age of the CO2, years AD

D14

C, p

erm

il

Radiocarbon measurements inDSS iceRadiocarbon measurements inDE08/DE08-2 ice and firnAtmospheric radiocarbon inSouthern HemisphereModel calculation for DE08

Model calculations for DSS

Levchenko et al. (1997); Smith et al. (2000)

240

260

280

300

320

340

1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000year

CO

2 (

ppm

)

600

1000

1400

1800

CH

4 (p

pb)

CH4

CO2

Antarctic Ice Core Air – CO2, CH4, d13C

Etheridge et al., Natural and anthropogenic changes in atmospheric CO2 over the last 1000 years from air in Antarctic ice and firn, J. Geophys. Res., 101, 4115-4128, 1996.

Etheridge et al., Atmospheric methane between 1000 A.D. and present: evidence of anthropogenic emissions and climatic variability. J. Geophys. Res., 103, 15979-15993, 1998.

Francey et al., A 1000 year high precision record of d13C in atmospheric CO2, Tellus, 51B, 170-193, 1999.

1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000year

-8.4

-8.0

-7.6

-7.2

-6.8

-6.4

-6.0

d13 C

(‰

)

Ice: dssIce: de08Ice: de08-2FirnCape GrimSpline

Trudinger et al. , J. Geophys. Res., 107 (D20): 4423, doi:10.1029/2001JD001112, 2002.

Kalman filter analysis of ice core data:

Double deconvolutionof CO2 and d13Cmeasurements

CO2

d13C

GtC/yr


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Cubic-ConformalAtmospheric Model

CSIROBiosphere

Model

CO2concentration

trend

Radiationtrend

Prescribedglobal sea

surfacetemperature

Prescribedfluxes:

fossil fuel,land-use, ocean

temperature,precipitation

biosphericflux

CO2 time-series

Vegetationmap, LAI,soil type,etc.

Drivingforces

Coupledmodel

CSIRO CCAM coupled with CBM(C4MIP Phase1 - very preliminary results)

Eva Kowalczyk, Rachel Law, Ylng-Ping Wang and Bernard Pak [pers. Comm.]

CO2 forcingModelObservations

CCAM-CBM: Global CO2Growth Rate (0.25*SPO + 0.75*MLO)

pp

m/ y

r1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

CO

2FL

UX

(PgC

/ yr)

FOSSILRELEASE

ATMOSPHERICACCUMULATION

OCEAN UPTAKE

[MC07]

TERRESTRIAL UPTAKE (MC07)

TERRESTRIAL UPTAKE

( d13C)

Francey et al., Sendai (2001 ); LeQuere et al., Tellus 55B, 649 (2003)

GASLAB (FLASK) CO2 RECORDS

92 040200989694

ALC 82N

92 040200989694

MLU 20N

92 0200989694 04 06

CGA 41S

92 040200989694

SPU 90S

MQA 54S

CFA 19S

SIS 60N

MAA 68S

EPC 49N

CRI 15N


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CO2 Trends relative to Cape GrimSlopes ± s.e.

ppm/yr 1993->

+0.052±0.003

+0.031±0.005

+0.065±0.003

+0.011±0.005

-0.007±0.001

-0.001±0.002

-0.004±0.0011992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004

Year

-1

0

1

2

3

4

5

Diff

eren

ce in

CO

2T

rend

s (p

pm)

ALC 82NSIS 60NMLU 20NCFA 19SMQA 54SMAA 68SSPU 90S

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

0

5

10

15

20

25

Glo

bal C

O2

Gro

wth

(G

t CO

2/yr

)

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

0

1

2

3

(ppm/yr)

1990saverage

30S-60SWDCGG #28

Cape Grim

The High 2002-2003 CO2 Growth

Rayner et al. (submitted): The sources of the anomalous growth rate of atmospheric CO2 in 2002 and 2003

3D Inversion: 69 CO2 sites (GLOBALVIEW) and 8 ŭ13C sites (CSIRO)

0.10.30.3North America

0.70.00.4Eurasia

0.1-0.20.3Europe

0.90.10.4Northern land

0.01.10.9Tropical land

0.81.21.2Global land

-0.2-0.10.4Global ocean

0.61.11.0Globe

2003 (GtC yr-1)2002 (GtC yr-1)Variability (GtC yr-1)Region

2003 Eurasian CO2 Growth

Black: Nth Land

Green: Europe

Blue: Eurasia

Red: Nth America

Rayner et al. (submitted): The sources of the anomalous growth rate of atmospheric CO2 in 2002 and 2003


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1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

1

2

3

CO

2 (p

pm

/yr)

0

10

20

H2,

CO

(pp

b/y

r)

1

2

3

CO

2 (p

pm

/yr)

0

10

20

H2,

CO

(pp

b/y

r)

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

20oN

41oS

FLASKINTERCHANGES

• To address persistent systematic differences observed between laboratories

• Purpose is to learn about errors rather thancorrect data

• Expensive! (up to 50% of analyses spent onquality control)

CO2 Traceability (conventional)

WMO PRIMARY CO2 STANDARDS

290

420

NDIR

24

6

521

30

4

32

4

33

7

34

9

35

3

36

1

36

9

381

38

9

39

6

41

2

42

3

45

3

NDIR

every 2 yrs

WMO SECONDARIES

every 6 mnths

NOAA CMDL

291

377

CSIRO gc

~ every 2 yrs

375

350

38540

0

CAPE GRIM NDIR

Atmospheric CO2 on WMO mole-fraction scale

'SPAN' GASES ATMOSPHERE

~380 mmol mol-1

390

370

~375

CSIRO / CAPE GRIM(pre-2004)

10-15 yrs

yearly

fortnightly

10 yrs

dryer

3 mnths

3 weeks

16 yrs

20 yrs

MANOMETERCO2/air (mmol/mol)

SI Units

±0.1 mmol/mol

±0.06 mmol/mol

±0.06 mmol/mol

±0.1 mmol/mol

±0.1 mmol/mol

±0.05 mmol/mol

Experimental Challenges for Improved Decadal CO2 Monitoring

• Continuous recordsOperating costSite representativeness

BOTH ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED WITH THE LoFlo CO2 ANALYSER

• More reliable and accessible traceabilitySimplify links to SI unitsMore rigorous verification of comparability

Karstens, Gloor et al.)

Law et al., 2002;2003


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LoFlo DESIGN OBJECTIVES

1. Continuous high-quality CO2 records,particularly from remote unattended locations(ultra low monitoring cost )

2. Improved absolute accuracy(simplified metrology/traceability)

CO2 Traceability (Future?)

WMO PRIMARYCO2 STANDARDS check every

5 yrs?

fieldLoFlo

Atmospheric CO2

consistent with WMO less-precise(or revised) mole-fraction scale

ATMOSPHERE~380 mmol mol-1

dryer

~±0.06mmol/mol

±0.03mmol/mol

~375

5 plus mnths

NATIONALGRAVIMETRICCO2/air (mmol/mol)

SI Units

±0.01mmol/mol

exchange suite

320

4 30 ~10 yrs

Proposed improved link to SI units

Concept developed with Laurie Besley, CSIRO NML

MODIFIED WHOLEAIR with CO2

± 0.3 mmol/mol

OR

GRAVIMERTRIC MIXTUREOF SYNTHETIC AIRCO2 ± 0.1 mmol/mol

One of 7-10LoFlo Standards

LoFlo WorkingStandard

cylinder lifetime 6-12 months

EXTRACT CO2

FROM 1/3 OF AIR

LoFlo Calibration Suitecylinder lifetime ~5-10 years

LoFlo

MONITOR:±0.01 mmol/mol

ASSIGN CYLINDER±0.03 mmol/mol

40L

5L

IWE GH

0.2g CO2 to ±5mg

:

300g air to ±1mg

±0.01 mmol/mol

Global CO2 sampling sitesflask samplescontinuous analysersLoFlo sites (2004/5); Other?


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LoFlo CONSTRUCTIONCSIRO ASPENDALE

TUMBARUMBA LoFlo SITES.E. AUSTRALIA FOREST

14-12-04 12 14-12-04 15 14-12-04 18

370

372

374

376

378

16-12-04 12 16-12-04 15 16-12-04 18

370

372

374

376

378

20-12-04 12 20-12-04 15 20-12-04 18

370

372

374

376

378

370

372

374

376

378

370

372

374

376

378

370

372

374

376

37842m56m70m

Cape Grim

Cape Grim

Cape Grim

TUMBARUMBA DATA (10am-10pm)

DANUM VALLEY LoFlo SITE MALAYSIA


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10-Oct-04 11-Oct-04 12-Oct-04 13-Oct-04360

370

380

390

400

CO

2 (p

pm

)

30m60m100m

DANUM VALLEY LoFlo DATA

CGA

Percent reduction in inversion flux uncertainty by adding continuous analysers at Danum Valley and Broome

(Rachel Law)

Integrated Project CarboEurope-IP

What is the role of the European continent in the global carbon cycle?

To advance our understanding in a multidisciplinary and integrated way, 61 research centres from 17 European countries have joined forces for a 5-year EU-funded research project (~€30M) started in January 2004. CarboEurope-IP addresses basic scientific questions of high political relevance.

http://www.carboeurope.org/

1. The challenge in global carbon budget studies is to link surface process information with measured atmospheric changes.

2. A major current difficulty is in aggregating heterogeneous surface exchanges (particularly terrestrial processes) – “the scale gap”.

3. On-going improvements in atmospheric transport, atmospheric measurement (multi-species, spatial cover, calibration) and models with multi-species parameterizations are likely to help close “the scale-gap” from the top.

ConclusionsConclusions


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1. Sources are well integrated and global changes in atmospheric greenhouse gas levels are well described by current measurements

2. The signature in the atmosphere of regional sources and sinks is strongly attenuated. Thus high measurement precision is required to detect differences between sampling sites. High stability/accuracy is required to measure small but important regional trends.

Rapid atmospheric mixing of longRapid atmospheric mixing of long--lived trace gases meanslived trace gases means::


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Climate Change and Biodiversity in NSW

Guest speaker: Dr Lesley Hughes

Climate Change and Biodiversity in NSW: DR LESLEY HUGHES

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27


28


29


30


31


32


33

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The Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity Management

Guest speaker: Dr Michael Dunlop

The Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity Management: DR MICHAEL DUNLOP

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36


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Bushfires and Climate Change

Guest speaker: Dr Geoff Cary

Bushfires and climate change

Geoff Cary1,3, Karen King1,3 & Ross Bradstock1,2,3

1 School of Resources, Environment and Society, The Australian National University2 Department of Environment and Conservation (New South Wales)

3 Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre

Bushfires and climate change

• Fire danger

• Climate change and fire danger

• Fire regime

• Climate change and fire regimes

• Implications

Fire danger

• A number between 0 and 100 that is directly related to the chances of a fire starting, its rate of spread, intensity and difficulty of suppression according to various combinations of temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and both long and short term drought effects.

A.G. McArthur 1973

Bushfires and Climate Change: DR GEOFF CARY

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Fire danger Changes in ΣFFDI - 1×CO2 to 2×CO2

Source:- Beer, T. and Williams, A. (1995) Estimating Australian forest fire danger under conditions of doubled carbon dioxide concentrations. Climatic Change, 29, 169-88.

Frequency of FFDI - 1×CO2 to 2×CO2

Source:- Williams, A.A. J, Karoly, D.J. and Tapper, N (2001) The sensitivity of Australian fire danger to climate change. Climatic Change, 49, 171-191

Occurrence of destructive fires (Sydney region)

0

20

40

60

80

100

10 20 30 40 50 60

FFDI

% c

hanc

e of

des

truc

tive

even

tSource:- Bradstock, R.A. & Gill, M.A. (2001) Living with fire and biodiversity at the urban edge: in search of a sustainable solution to the protection problem in southern Australia. Journal of Mediterranean Ecology 2, 179-195.


40

Fire regime

• The sequence of fires consisting of their components

Between-fire interval

Intensity

Season

Type

A.M. Gill 1975

Cary, G.J. (1998) Predicting long-term fire regimes and their ecological effects in spatially complex landscapes, Research School Biological Sciences, Australian National University,

< 500500 -600

600 - 700700 - 800800 - 900

900 - 10001000 - 11001100 - 12001200 - 13001300 – 14001400 – 15001500 – 16001600 – 1700

> 1700No data

LegendACT BorderElevation (metres)

DEM of Australian Capital Territory Region

Ignition occurrence& location modelDaily weather

FIRESCAPE

Soil DrynessIndex

Elliptical firespread

DailyRegion

Forest Fire Danger MeterHourly site weather

Fuel dynamics

ROS neighbours (slope)

Successfulspread

No further spread

HourlySite

McCarthy, M.A. and Cary, G.J. (2002) Fire regimes of landscapes: models and realities. InFlammable Australia: The Fire Regimes and Biodiversity of a Continent. (Eds R.A. Bradstock, A.M. Gill, J.E. Williams ). Cambridge University Press.

0 – 1010 – 2020 – 3030 – 4040 – 5050 – 6060 – 7070 – 8080 – 90> 90No data

LegendACT BorderAverage Inter-fire Interval (years)

Average inter-fire interval from 1000 year simulation


41

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Franklin Gininni (N) Gininni (S) R1600 Bimberi

Stand

Ave

rage

inte

r-fir

e in

terv

al (

year

s

FIRESCAPE (95% CI)

Banks (1982)

Cary, G.J. and Banks, J.C.G. (1999) Fire regime sensitivity to global climate change: An Australian perspective. In Advances in Global Change Research. pp. 233-246. Kluwer Academic Publishers:Dordrecht and Boston.

Climate change scenarios

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Month

Tem

pera

ture

incr

ease

(o C)

Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

0102030405060708090

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Month

Rel

ativ

e hu

mid

ity (%

)

1xCO2

2XCO2

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Month

Dai

ly ra

infa

ll (m

m)

1xCO2

2XCO2

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

44.5

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Month

Dai

ly w

inds

peed

(m/s

)

1xCO2

2XCO2

Maximum increase in

average monthly

temperature

Small change in climate

+ 0.6

Moderate change in climate

+ 2

No change in climate (current)

+ 0

Largechange in climate

+ 3.4

Min tempPPTRH

Scaled consistently with change in temperature

Wind speed Unchanged

Climate change scenarios

Cary, G.J. (2002) Importance of a changing climate for fire regimes in Australia. In Flammable Australia: The Fire Regimes and Biodiversity of a Continent. (Eds R.A. Bradstock, A.M. Gill, J.E. Williams ). Cambridge University Press.

0 – 1010 – 2020 – 3030 – 4040 – 5050 – 6060 – 7070 – 8080 – 90> 90No data


Average inter-fire interval from 500 year simulation –Current climate


42

0 – 1010 – 2020 – 3030 – 4040 – 5050 – 6060 – 7070 – 8080 – 90> 90No data


Average inter-fire interval from 500 year simulation –Moderate change in climate

Cary, G.J. (2002) Importance of a changing climate for fire regimes in Australia. In Flammable Australia: The Fire Regimes and Biodiversity of a Continent. (Eds R.A. Bradstock, A.M. Gill, J.E. Williams ). Cambridge University Press.

Comparative fire model studies

EMBYR Yellowstone NP

FIRESCAPE South-eastern Australia

LAMOS-DS Generic (Corsica)

LANDSUM Northern Rocky Mountains

SEM-LAND West-central Alberta

Climate scenarios

Temperature Precipitation

Observed + 0 oC x 1

Warmer /Wetter + 3.6 oC x 1.2

Warmer/ + 3.6 oC x 0.8Drier


EMBYR - Yellowstone National Park

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Observed W armer/wetter W armer/drier

ClimateLo

g10

area

bur

ned

(Ha)


43


FIRESCAPE - South eastern Australia

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Observed W armer/wetter Warmer/drier

Climate

Log1

0 ar

ea b

urne

d (H

a)LAMOS(DS) - Corsica

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Observed Warmer/wetter W armer/drier

Climate

Log1

0 ar

ea b

urne

d (H

a)

LANDSUM - Northern Rocky Mountains

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Observed W armer/wetter Warmer/drier

Climate

Log1

0 ar

ea b

urne

d (H

a)

SEM-LAND - W est-central Alberta, Canada

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Observed Warmer/wetter W armer/drier

Climate

Log1

0 ar

ea b

urne

d (H

a)

South west Tasmania

Pasture

Mixed forest

Wet eucalypt forest

Alpine

Wet scrub

0 5 0 1 0 0

kilom etre s

Buttongrass

Rainforest


44

Climate change & management

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50% button grass burnt annually

Are

a un

plan

ned

fire

(x 1

000

Ha)

1980-2000

Data:- Dr Karen King, School Resources, Environment & Society, ANU

Climate change & management

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50% button grass burnt annually

Are

a u

npla

nn

ed f

ire (

x 1000 H

a)

1980-2000

2070

Data:- Dr Karen King, School Resources, Environment & Society, ANU

Conclusion

• A changing climate will affect fire danger at a particular locality.

• This may have economic implications with respect to damage from fire.

• A changing climate may affect the fire regime for a particular location.

• Intervals between fires are predicted to decrease.

• This has implications for species dynamics and effectiveness of management actions.


45

46

Alien Species and Climate Change

Guest speaker: Dr Paul Downey

Department of

Environment and Conservation (NSW)

alien species and

climate change

alien species and

climate change

Pest Management Unit, Parks and Wildlife Division, NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, PO Box 1967, Hurstville NSW 2220 Australia

Dr Paul DowneyDr Paul Downey

alien speciesalien speciesNational Biodiversity and ClimateChange Action Plan (2004-2007)

- Objective 6: to minimise the impact of invasive organisms on biodiversity in future climates

- 4 strategies and 7 actions

National Biodiversity and ClimateChange Action Plan (2004-2007)

- Objective 6: to minimise the impact of invasive organisms on biodiversity in future climates

- 4 strategies and 7 actions

alien speciesalien speciesalien species

effects of climate changemodellingdata requiredcurrent workfuture

alien specieseffects of climate changemodellingdata requiredcurrent workfuture

alien species - group 1alien species - group 1some alien species are widespread. Climate change may not increase their distribution significantly

animals plants¸ foxes ?¸ cats¸ rabbits¸ goats

some alien species are widespread. Climate change may not increase their distribution significantly

animals plants¸ foxes ?¸ cats¸ rabbits¸ goats

© G. Saunders

many alien species are still expanding their distribution (still invading). The effect of future climates are thus difficult to determine.

animals plants¸ cane toads ¸ WONS¸ mynas ¸ 1,000 species¸ red-fire ant¸ red-eared slider

tortoises

many alien species are still expanding their distribution (still invading). The effect of future climates are thus difficult to determine.

animals plants¸ cane toads ¸ WONS¸ mynas ¸ 1,000 species¸ red-fire ant¸ red-eared slider

tortoises

alien species - group 2alien species - group 2

© M. Mahony

species for which there is limited data or are not yet considered to be invasisve (ienew incursions). Will they become invasive under future climatic conditions?

¸ fish¸ invertebrates

(bumble bees)

¸ marine organisms(caulerpa)

¸ diseases (Phytophora)¸ alert & sleeper weeds

species for which there is limited data or are not yet considered to be invasisve (ienew incursions). Will they become invasive under future climatic conditions?

¸ fish¸ invertebrates

(bumble bees)

¸ marine organisms(caulerpa)

¸ diseases (Phytophora)¸ alert & sleeper weeds

alien species - group 3alien species - group 3

© IUCN

Alien Species and Climate Change: DR PAUL DOWNEY

47

how might climatic changes influence:

i) distribution,ii) abundance, and

iii) impact of invasive plant species?

how might climatic changes influence:

i) distribution,ii) abundance, and

iii) impact of invasive plant species?

climate change & distributionclimate change & distribution

increased temperature especially in the alpine areas

- Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius)- orange hawkweed (Hieracium spp.)- Juncus effusus

increased temperature especially in the alpine areas

- Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius)- orange hawkweed (Hieracium spp.)- Juncus effusus

© Province of British Columbia

climate change & abundanceclimate change & abundance

¸ increased drought - prickle bushes (shrubs)

¸ increased summer rainfall- parthenium weed (herb)

¸ reduced water flow- salvinia (aquatic)

¸ increased drought - prickle bushes (shrubs)

¸ increased summer rainfall- parthenium weed (herb)

¸ reduced water flow- salvinia (aquatic)

© Rebecca Coventry, NSW DPI

climate change & impactsclimate change & impacts

altered fire regimesafrican grasses & increased fuel loads- para grass (Urochloa mutica)- gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus)

altered fire regimesafrican grasses & increased fuel loads- para grass (Urochloa mutica)- gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus)

© ABC

how can we model these three areas?

how can we model these three areas?

data requireddata requiredDistribution:

- reasonably good data available for many species

Abundance:- limited data available

Impacts:- often unknown

Distribution:- reasonably good data available for

many speciesAbundance:

- limited data availableImpacts:

- often unknown


48

distributiondistributionmodel current & potential distribution

cat’s claw creeper (Macfadyena unguis-cati)model current & potential distribution

cat’s claw creeper (Macfadyena unguis-cati)

currentpotential

1999(part of WONS)

model current & potential distributioncat’s claw creeper (Macfadyena unguis-cati)

model current & potential distributioncat’s claw creeper (Macfadyena unguis-cati)

currentpotential

1999(part of WONS)

2005(Biology Oz weeds)

Perth

Broome

Darwin

Sydney

Hobart

Cairns

Adelaide

Brisbane

Melbourne

LongreachAlice Springs

114°0'0"E

114°0'0"E

120°0'0"E

120°0'0"E

126°0'0"E

126°0'0"E

132°0'0"E

132°0'0"E

138°0'0"E

138°0'0"E

144°0'0"E

144°0'0"E

150°0'0"E

150°0'0"E

156°0'0"E

156°0'0"E

162°0'0"E

162°0'0"E

42°0'0"S 42°0'0"S

39°0'0"S 39°0'0"S

36°0'0"S 36°0'0"S

33°0'0"S 33°0'0"S

30°0'0"S 30°0'0"S

27°0'0"S 27°0'0"S

24°0'0"S 24°0'0"S

21°0'0"S 21°0'0"S

18°0'0"S 18°0'0"S

15°0'0"S 15°0'0"S

12°0'0"S 12°0'0"S

9°0'0"S 9°0'0"S

Climate Suitability

Suitable (30 - 50)

Marginal (10 - 30)

Highly suitable (EI > 50)

Macfadyena unguis-cati

Unsuitable (EI < 10)

State Boundary

Current Distribution

distributiondistribution

!(

!(

!(

!(

!(

!(

!(

!(

!(

!(

!(

Perth

Broome

Darwin

Sydney

Hobart

Cairns

Adelaide

Brisbane

Melbourne

LongreachAl ice Springs

POTENTIAL DISTRIBUTION OF CANE TOADBufo Marinus

CLIMATE SUITABILITY

Highly suitable (EI > 50)

Marginal (5 - 30)Unsuitable (EI < 5)

Suitable (30 - 50)

model current & potential distributioncane toads

model current & potential distributioncane toads

distributiondistribution abundanceabundanceharder problem, which would require a more complex modelling approach- information on habitat changes

would be needed, which is difficult toassess

harder problem, which would require a more complex modelling approach- information on habitat changes

would be needed, which is difficult toassess

impactsimpactsdata is desperately needed for all alien species on their impacts to biodiversity (ie the species threatened)- matched with potential distribution

data is desperately needed for all alien species on their impacts to biodiversity (ie the species threatened)- matched with potential distribution

current work - impacts (DEC)current work - impacts (DEC)Threat Abatement Plans for alien species

documentation of the species at risk- Fox TAP- Gambusia TAP- draft Bitou TAP

dataset on the impacts of alien species on threatened biodiversity in NSW

Threat Abatement Plans for alien speciesdocumentation of the species at risk- Fox TAP- Gambusia TAP- draft Bitou TAP

dataset on the impacts of alien species on threatened biodiversity in NSW


49

alien speciesalien speciesU model changes in distribution/

abundance, and coupled with data on impacts as it becomes available

U it is more cost effective to deal with the current problem, as this will limit any effects of climate change

U model changes in distribution/ abundance, and coupled with data on impacts as it becomes available

U it is more cost effective to deal with the current problem, as this will limit any effects of climate change

alien speciesalien species

Questions?


50

AFTERNOON SESSION: IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE FOR YOUR REGION

Panel Discussion

Chair: Dr George McKay

The five speakers on climate change formed a panel to answer questions from the delegates.

Group Discussion The attendees were then split into four Branch groups to discuss the ‘Implications for YourRegion’.

The following questions were presented to each group to consider:

1. What were some of the key points from the presentations on climate change?

2. What positives do you see about climate change?

3. What concerns do you have about climate change?

4. What do you see as the key conservation issues in your region that need to be addressed in managing for climate change?

5. What recommendations would you make to address climate change issues in the establishment and management of protected areas, and in the management of wildlife?

The responses of each Branch group to these questions are presented below.

51

52

Central Branch Discussion on Climate Change: Peter Stevens

Question 1. What were some of the key points from the presentations on climate change?

1. ‘Only’ 1%–3% emissions in Australia, but still problem

Is this message put across to the leadership of the country or political institutions?

2. Denial

At all levels of the community; also from government

2.1 lack of response from government

2.2 lead must come from population

2.3 community recognition

Nothing happens without this. We are starting to get community recognition of the climate change issue – that's why we're here today.

2.3.1 heads in sand

Not my problem, too big, can't do anything about it anyway.

2.4 Government and community

Experience on boards and committees – hard to get the idea across of carrying capacity limited by water.

3. Prepare ourselves better

For the level and time of change.

4. Intergenerational issue

People 25 now will experience the 1-degree change. This will affect who we talk to about this and who will care about it.

4.1 problem was there 20 years ago

Can't sit there for another 20 years. Need to raise awareness very directly.

5. Scale of response needs to be beyond regional boundaries

State-scale in terms of predictive modelling and developing responses in PoMs.

6. Education

Need to get the message out that has been happening for many years. Hockey stick back to communities.

6.1 What are the forces affecting the way we live?

By the time the 25’ers are in positions of authority maybe damage will be irrevocable.

6.2 Needs communicating in a user-friendly accessible manner

People will only be interested in we are a unified voice

53

6.3 DEC’s role in education

Not only Central Branch.

7. Think differently about criteria for reserve choices

Will a new criterion be that of connectivity – not just parks, but working with conservation trusts, CMAs to get greater connection?

8. Coping with change – not just a park issue

Engaging people off-park as well as on-park.

9. Still losing tree cover and biodiversity

10. Triage

We have concentrated on keeping things static – waste of time. By nature biodiversity is dynamic and changing, and there will come a time when we need to choose what to give up.

11. With us now

Not a question of whether or when, we have to break things into two areas – what will we do globally.

12. Speeding up of climate change

Problems are happening more quickly.

13. Snow

14. Cynical

Question 2. What positives do you see about climate change?

15. This forum is a positive acknowledgement

16. What we CAN do

16.1 Alien weeds and predators

Attack these thing aggressively. We can be positive that we can make a difference and make it.

17. Research and monitoring

18. Selection of reserves

Wetlands, montane and eco-specialists most vulnerable.

19. Partnerships

Question 3. What concerns do you have about climate change?

20. Recreational use and leisure facilities

21. Increases in sea level

Impact on various properties over 70 years.

22. Clearly time to act NOW

54

23. Plans of management

Should address climate change.

24. Fire

24.1 Bushfires

Lose biodiversity.

24.2 Staff and resources required

Impact.

24.3 Head Office planning process

Required to manage staff in these situations.

24.4 Increased fire frequency

Need to have a response – critical.

24.5 Community value of bushland adjacent to real estate

24.6 RFS buffers

Real concern about allowing people to build close to NPs.

24.7 Design of buffer zones

For example, weeding out shrubs.

25. Weeds

26. Ferals

27. Infrastructure

27.1 Impact on roads, rail etc.

28. Biodiversity

28.1 Plants limited to above 900-m contour

Have nowhere to go.

Question 4. What do you see as the key conservation issues in your region that need to be addressed in managing for climate change?

29. Whole-of-government approach

Make it a part of getting a government job.

30. Water

30.1 Need for more infrastructure

30.2 Cost of water will skyrocket

30.2.1 May help raise awareness

55

30.2.2 People will want another dam

Loss of habitat.

31. Some communities will not cope at all

We have more resources than many.

32. Cultural heritage

Already having climate issues with conservation – how will climate change make this more difficult? Fire destroys irreplaceable heritage; wattle and daub, sandstone are damaged by salinity and dry temperatures.

33. Some species and ecological communities will expand

34. Increased revenue from diverse leisure activities

35. We will encourage community to come to grips with climate change

36. Capacity to lead response

36.1 Science will help

We can implement change in PoM process.

36.2 We can monitor change

And suggest ways to counter and adapt.

36.3 Adapt

37. Capacity to increase awareness of other ecological issues

Such as impacts of development, flows on to staff.

37.1 ‘Carrying capacity’ issue has to be dealt with

Climate change may be a catalyst for this.

38. Potential for community bonding

Comparable to a war footing.

39. Beach for Blue Mountains

And ski fields redundant.

40. Mechanisms already in place

Opportunities for community and scientific partnerships.

41. Educated, well-resourced community gives options

42. World-class reserve around big city

We won't lose a whole system, our systems are not at the extremes.

42.1 Agency will re-think approach to protected area management

43. Fuel loads may go down

44. Social responsibility and positivity are a good thing

56

45. Less grass to mow

46. Include climate change in PoMs

Actions, monitoring.

46.1 need to plan monitoring & responses

Question 5. What recommendations would you make to address climate change issues in the establishment and management of protected areas, and in the management of wildlife?

47. Attack most aggressive problems aggressively

48. Encourage three tiers of government to work with us on all issues

49. Agency needs to lead others

Councils, CMAs will follow.

50. Examine connectivity more seriously

Force us to look at private land conservation, working with other agencies.

51. Conservation inventory based on triage model

51.1 To get discussion going

51.2 Scientific basis for selection

51.3 Commit to paper

52. Find out what we need to know

53. Incorporate climate variability into action plans

54. LC could sit on cluster group for Natural Resource Agencies

Make them realise this is core business for all of us. We have to work together on the problems we have now.

55. Identify important connections between systems

55.1 Strategy for creating, restoring and managing those connections

56. Crown Lands reserve as buffer zone?

57. Get other agencies to cooperate

58. Reinstate principle of no net loss

Each time we think about another land use for the area we have to think about what happens to the species on site. Compensatory habitat is part of green offsets policy not yet fully adopted.

59. Investigate carbon trade

But only after ratifying Kyoto.

57

60. Resources should be identified

To implement these measures.

60.1 where's the money going to come from?

61. Investigate alternative energy sources

62. 10 million residents – increasing population

63. Pressure on parks for recreational use

64. Improve salt marsh areas currently losing out to mangroves

65. Backyard Buddies affects people’s view of wildlife

Gets message across not to have harmful pets.

66. Stop people dumping their weeds over the fence into the park

Climate change to raise awareness and attitudes over all ecological issues.

67. Take notes, write summary and provide to local press

68. Agenda item on committees, inform communities

Take some pressure by distributing information.

69. Take hard copy of presentations to committee and community

70. Draft unified response to Minister, give opportunity for public statement

71. Connect with community through Library system

School, industrial, university libraries should be provided with these proceedings and other information.

72. Add information from this session to website

73. Turn Olympic marketing to extend meaning of ‘green city’

Make and market our city as environmentally friendly.

74. Capture self-interest

74.1 Can turn it to our advantage in BM

74.2 Use it as tool to connect people to issues

74.3 People have come on board about water restrictions

75. Advocacy within agency for predictive modelling

76. Climate change can encourage, help, force us to do things better

77. Who is the message presented by in the public arena?

Ian Kiernan, etc., rather than academics.

78. Body of work around climate change

58

79. Think about climate change as a threat in chapter heads in PoM

80. For connectivity, VCAs, community partnerships are vital

80.1 Lead by example

80.2 Goal is whole of state – community commitment

80.3 Grant application around connectivity

DEC could lead, with letters of support from all the related groups connected via RACs.

80.4 Incorporate funding from user groups

59

Northern Branch Discussion on Climate Change: Sue Elks

Question 1: What were some of the key points from the presentations on climate change? ¶ 800 eucalypt species potentially impacted – biodiversity richness

¶ Density of human population – impact on reserves

¶ Anyone in conservation planning will face (need to make) hard decisions – triage?

¶ Spread of ferals

¶ Impact on Aboriginal cultural heritage

¶ Need to influence political process

¶ Levels of government not gelling and acting as if aware of issue

¶ Land acquisition for connectivity and range change

¶ Get the hills too!

¶ Problem of ‘landcorp’ – NP estate not charged market price

¶ Range of pests will move, e.g. cane toads

¶ Particular communities will be more vulnerable (CERRA)

¶ All communities could be at risk from climate, sea level rises

¶ Impact on industry re fishing – could be a positive

¶ Mitigation not brought to attention

¶ Monitoring – need to know what is in reserves

Question 4: What do you see as the key conservation issues in your region that need to be addressed in managing for climate change? Lens session outcomes:

Connectivity

¶ Connectivity of estate will be required (Recommendation: immediate planning of main ‘connectors’ and a scheme of acquisition be set down)

¶ Corridors east-west – land acquisition now imperative.

Management plans

¶ Develop plans for pest species that take account of the effects of climate change.

¶ Include strategies for dealing with climate change in all Plans of Management and Fire Management Plans.

¶ Review of management plans and FMS to take account of climate change.

¶ Maintaining ecosystems within accepted fore interval thresholds (Recommendation: increased regulatory control of rural fires, increased capacity to respond quickly to and suppress wildfires; and additional efforts to protect fire-sensitive ecosystems i.e. fire breaks, APZs)

Pests

¶ New diseases in plants and animals (non-human).

¶ Ferals and weeds that are likely to expand need to be hit hard now.

60

Aboriginal communication and knowledge

¶ There is limited communication with Aboriginal communities on the changes to our environment.

¶ Utilising Aboriginal and historical knowledge of the environment on how they see the changes already.

Biodiversity management

¶ Landscape – restoring native vegetation.

¶ We need to have some understanding about the potential ‘losers’ and ‘winners’ in our regions in terms of plants, animals and plant communities.

¶ For each park, identifying the most vulnerable species and communities for up to 2 degrees C, and their in-situ conservation options (direct and indirect threats like fire, pests, weeds).

¶ Need to consider interactions between: – increased temperature – decreased rainfall leading to reduced river flow – rising sea levels on coastal wetlands.

¶ Need to know more about likely local impacts.

¶ Identify impacts of climate change on natural/cultural heritage values and ability to adapt for each reserve – risk management.

Communication and education

¶ Community values.

¶ Community education (Recommendation: media series e.g. National Geographic)

¶ Either poor understanding of, or mental paralysis re climate change.

Coordination

¶ Need coordinated approach between DEC and other State Government agencies and Federal DEH on reserve planning.

¶ Building cooperative strategies across tenures with landholders, CMAs, LGAs to: – manage sites that may function as refuges and protect from other threats – manage landscape linkages that science suggests will help in migration/range shifts.

Wildfire

¶ Wildfire in critical areas e.g. Barrington Tops sub-alpine area.

¶ Increased wildfire ignitions and need for rapid response for suppression.

Urban development

¶ Human populations in our coastal areas will be more dense. (Recommendation: planning for visitor use be done.)

¶ Valuable conservation areas in demand for industrial development, housing.

¶ RTA

61

Question 5: What recommendations would you make to address climate change issues in the establishment and management of protected areas, and in the management of wildlife? ¶ DEC needs to lead by example in a whole-of-government process – dedication by DEC

not just RACs – ‘call to action’ – evolution of roles and responsibilities. – Go back to communities and spread the word on the issue – ‘community call to action’

– communicate back down the line.

¶ PoMs need to address climate change – need knowledge and skills to do so. – People need to have information to make an informed decision, e.g. TV program on

commercial TV at prime time. – Need information out to community to get support. – Must use existing knowledge rather than do nothing – need better flow of information.

¶ Meet with LGAs and communicate issue to them.

¶ Invite research by universities into reserve system.

¶ Build on connectivity project already commenced in Northern NSW.

62

Southern Branch Discussion on Climate Change: Stuart McMahon

A. Key points from discussions and presentations on climate change ¶ Loss of suitable habitat.

¶ Need to address fragmentation of natural habitats.

¶ What will be the impact for pest species? Will they move from lower country to the alpine areas?

¶ Length of tourist seasons.

¶ Species movement – 100 metres in altitude or 100 km south?

¶ Identifying the scope of the change through monitoring: – getting snapshots of the current situation – knowledge of what’s in parks

¶ What is the role of Regional Advisory Committees (RACs) in this issue ? Need actions for partnership between Regions and RACs.

¶ There is a need for NPWS to demonstrate that fire protection strategies are in place.

¶ Need to translate the National Action Plan on Climate Change to Regional actions.

¶ Feelings of concern/urgency for alpine area!

¶ Feeling pessimistic about climate change.

¶ On a global scale – China’s use of resources and the impacts of this situation Ý their cultural aspirations for lifestyle and development will not be limited by global demands or expectations.

¶ Do we modify expectations of parks? E.g. extending ski areas in the alps?

¶ No snow – no dough ($) Ý contingency plans for revenue in the future.

¶ Invasion of ferals.

¶ Coastal/fresh water wetlands will be impacted: – mangroves will increase in area – do we intervene in a natural process/response?

¶ It is unclear what can be done at a park management level

Ý best practice management – should these practices happen anyway ?

¶ Climate change is happening – we are already measuring impacts.

¶ Ecological services of park management important for: – catchment health – water supply

B. What do you see as the key conservation issues in your region that need to be addressed in managing for climate change?

Issue 1 (see relevant recommendations in C below)

¶ The need for connectivity between reserves: – for native species movement – to overcome major landform barriers – need to work with Victorian and Tasmanian

alps managers

Ý Need to build partnerships across land tenures

Ý Need a decision-making framework for identifying and establishing Voluntary Conservation Agreements and Wildlife Refuges.

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– Need to map potential species migrations (looking at soils, aspect, biogeographic regions).

– Need to identify species’ tolerance to climate change.

¶ Isolated habitats on the ‘tops of hills’ – alpine habitats – high number of isolated endemic species under real and imminent threat:

Ý key decisions required, e.g. remove threats to maximise habitat values, species relocations?

Issue 2 (see relevant recommendations in C below)

¶ Management of threats: – pest species – population growth – forms of development – bushfire management.

Other unprioritised issues

¶ Management of catchments: – Healthy catchments lead to clean water supply; however this poses a potential threat to

parks through the desire to extract water from park areas. – Snow cover on Kosciuszko? Water to the Murray?

¶ National parks as carbon sinks: – Carbon trading has the potential for building DEC’s financial capacity for management

of the reserve system

¶ The protected area network – protected from what? How will climate change affect this objective, i.e. the management of biodiversity/ecological processes?

¶ Education/communication of the climate change issue to the community, to governments.

¶ Management of visitor expectations.

¶ The issue of time scales – accelerated/pressured rates of ecological change Ý distortion of ecological processes.

C. What recommendations would you make to address climate change issues in the establishment and management of protected areas, and in the management of wildlife?

Recommendations relating to Issue 1 (see B)

1.1 Incorporate climate change into DEC’s protected area acquisition strategy.

1.2 Identify key migration corridors for native species to inform the management of the protected area network.

Recommendations relating to Issue 2 (see B)

2.1 Raise priority of threat management, regarding climate change impacts, during policy development and funding processes

2.2 Plan to increase the emphasis on the management of threats at their boundaries of distribution

2.3 Manage all threats across tenures

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2.4 Look to maximise the potential for park users and local communities to be supporters and advocates for national park management regarding climate change (community education/partnerships)

Overarching recommendations

3.1 The DEC Climate Change Action Plan to provide guidance for the best ways to implement actions at Branch/Regional scales.

3.2 Each Region to consider the development of a Regional Climate Change Strategy.

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Western Branch Discussion on Climate Change: Lynn Webber

Question 1: What were some of the key points from the presentations on climate change? ¶ Awareness

¶ Extinctions of flora and fauna

¶ Global warming has been discussed for 100 years and by CSIRO for 20 years – the clock is ticking

¶ Moving of species to other areas and staying

¶ What is happening into the future?

¶ Conservation applies to a dynamic system

¶ Size of Australia – what I do may have no impacts

¶ Fragmented reserves in agricultural landscape

¶ Artificial man-made evolution

¶ Threat to riparian land systems – wetlands in Western NSW

¶ Waterways

¶ How suitable climate change is going to be for ferals

¶ Monitoring programs and importance

¶ Nexus research, policy, management

¶ Monitoring – more complex and difficult

¶ Going to have to manage within it, not against it

Question 2: What positives do you see about climate change? ¶ May send some rivers dry – may be good.

¶ Moving forward on issue as an agency – role in informing broad community.

Question 3: What concerns do you have about climate change? ¶ Rivers – climate variability – what response might be from management viewpoint?

¶ Won’t be able to live in White Cliffs because of water, climate issues.

¶ Closer look at formulating Plan of Management for new park – mound springs, what we are going to do to manage.

¶ What’s happened to national parks and elsewhere?

¶ Fire on an agricultural interface – Pilliga and community awareness of frequency.

¶ Assume hotter means drier – could be wetter.

¶ Variability in rainfall – not sure.

¶ Snow possums, hooded robin will be affected by one degree in temperature, but by three degrees they will be wiped out.

¶ Distribution of variability over Australia.

¶ How changes are going to affect features the visitors see – new values?

¶ Monitoring – information currently available - presence/absence, not as much on condition – need baseline data now.

¶ Population in Western NSW – are a lot of agricultural practices going to be sustainable?

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¶ Climate change should be core business for Natural Resource Management and environment

¶ Where do we focus money? Identify

¶ Role of RACs – implications for future role

¶ Connectivity and distances between national parks – how executed? e.g. Darling Range

¶ Goal posts for biodiversity keep changing

¶ What is the cost of managing – will people accept cost?

¶ CMAs should ask this question as well – all-of-government and community approach

Question 4: What do you see as the key conservation issues in your region that need to be addressed in managing for climate change? ¶ Questions that you ask to address a plan of management

¶ Processes

¶ RACs to identify issues in communities and bring back to committee – two-way communication

¶ Educational program in local area

¶ Get baseline data – measure change

¶ Engage in across the Department consultation process – affect whole system – whole-of-government – DPI, DEC, DET

¶ Use of RACs as a channel for two-way communication

¶ Off-park conservation – CMAs have a role in this – can they do anything?

¶ Saving genetic material – seed banks, gene banks, cloning

¶ Time capsules – recording species

¶ Integrated pest management

Question 5: What recommendations would you make to address climate change issues in the establishment and management of protected areas, and in the management of wildlife? ¶ Friends – councils have databases

¶ Concept – parks need a volunteer coordinator – incorporated organisation – trial (large organisation)

¶ When starting up new parks – incorporate

¶ Incorporated Friends of Parks – can get funds to operate

¶ Local chapters or districts – cluster of parks

¶ Affiliated groups – 4WD clubs, Lions club, skills that can be adapted

¶ State-wide coverage – help others without budget

¶ Parallel in Victoria – insurance

¶ Umbrella group and structure

¶ New relationships with groups – more informal structures

¶ Overarching Friends Group – structures to work within – existing volunteers would see the bigger picture

¶ Friends discussion South Australia – emphasis on need for social interaction in organisation – not as easy in the bush

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¶ Lots of independent groups e.g. Bitou Bush Friends Group, Timbertown Friends Group – concerned about conservation of diversity but not tied together, though they have a similar set of objectives

¶ Cohesion in our own organisation as well as Friends

¶ Unite when a common cause – coalescing of groups with shared interest

¶ Departmental structure that supports

¶ Consultative committee and Friends groups’ relationship – something to look at

¶ Friends group and RAC links

¶ Working with professional staff on landcare, weeds etc. - sense of ownership – local involvement, local communication with local managers and senior staff. Some groups don’t want paperwork – practical work on ground

¶ ‘Can do’ attitude – negativity breeds negativity

¶ Conservation and policeman (legislation and regulations)

¶ Well developed trained volunteers (bush regeneration) and also more lobbying groups, diversity, industrial issues not insolvable

¶ ‘Shoulder to shoulder’ approach

¶ Organisation backed with structure and support

¶ Need to have social activity – work, but also need to give back, e.g. BBQs – provide fun and make volunteers want to come back

¶ Recognition for volunteers – parks pass

¶ Heritage agreements – principle of stewardship payment

¶ Volunteers do cost: – $7.50 per volunteer (ACT) in support, training, materials etc. – training costs external funds – increases OH&S responsibilities –look at extent of involvement, costs, look at OH&S to

use chainsaw and training. Need to be able to recognise accredited training and review policy.

¶ Big volunteer environment – work closely setting up Friends of Arakwal – currently looking at this

¶ Community days, Aboriginal days and other themes

¶ In Western – parallels of populations may have a leg up for those with less local people

¶ People want to do something positive but not political

¶ Getting friends involved – waiving fees – can have an incentive to get access to parks

¶ Lack of Aboriginal participation – cultural differences – need to consider involvement

¶ Volunteer groups should consult with Aboriginal training officers

¶ Support to land environmental groups by way of letters of support, engagement and consultation

Sunday 15 May 2005

FIRST MORNING SESSION: ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY

Chair: Diana Hoffman, Advisory Council Chair and member of Far West Region Advisory Committee

Guest Speakers Diana Hoffman and Dene Cordes

Regional Advisory Committees’ Discussion Paper: People Helping ParksDiana Hoffman presented a summary of comments on the discussion paper ‘People Helping Parks’, which was discussed at advisory committee meetings late in 2004. The text of the paper is presented below.

Summary of Advisory Committees’ responses The following key themes presented are based on content analysis of advisory committee responses to the three points for discussion presented in the paper:

1. Establishing and managing the protected area system

2. Identifying and dealing with wildlife issues, and

3. Tapping into local knowledge, expertise and resources.

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The following advisory committees provided responses to the People Helping Parks discussion paper:

¶ Northern Rivers (NR)

¶ Blue Mountains (BM)

¶ Far South Coast (FSC)

¶ Mid North Coast (MNC)

¶ South Coast (SC)

¶ Upper Darling (UD)

¶ Central Coast Hunter Range (CCHR)

1. Establishing and managing the protected area system The protected area system has the following components:

¶ A formal reserve system, where the government acquires and manages land for conservation purposes

¶ Co-management arrangements, where government-acquired land is managed in partnership with local Aboriginal communities or wholly by them

¶ Voluntary conservation agreements, where private landowners agree with NPWS to manage land for conservation outcomes

What are your ideas about how local people can be encouraged to be involved in establishing and managing their local national parks and reserves or voluntary conservation arrangements, or similar arrangements that achieve the same outcomes?

Community, visitor and business relationships

¶ Increase number of rangers (including Aboriginal rangers) to meet face to face with the community and improve community relations (MNC).

¶ Separate the role of ranger and policeman – many members of the community see rangers as police officers (MNC).

¶ The role of the National Parks Association in park establishment should be maintained (FW).

¶ Develop business partnerships with local business managers to place the NPWS assets, such as built assets (homesteads) on a commercially oriented viable footing. NPWS staff priorities should be conservation management, not necessarily tourist accommodation management (FW).

¶ Involve advisory committees in carrying out surveys (not necessarily formal) to quiz visitors and locals on which parks they visit, what they expect to find there and their impressions and reactions following a visit (FW).

¶ It is necessary that community expectations are balanced with what NPWS can deliver (CCHR).

Aboriginal community relationships

¶ Partnerships with Aboriginal people should be with Traditional Owners rather than local Aboriginal communities (SC).

¶ Co-management and an open day for the reserve that focuses on the cultural heritage values/issues would be popular and could include hands-on demonstrations such as shelter making, bush tucker, tool making and hand stencilling. This would provide an opportunity for the advisory committee members to have their profile raised in the general community (UD).

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¶ Co-management is difficult and variants are being trialled with some success. Perhaps there would be a greater understanding of the issues which have to be addressed if more advisory committee members had the opportunity to meet with some of the joint management advisory committees and boards (FW).

Major activities and working bees with community groups and clubs

¶ Improve facilities, access and environment for that group on an annual basis, devised in collaboration with that group within a local national park to encourage and create a sense of ownership (MNC).

Community awareness

¶ At a grass roots level, increasing the community’s awareness of the local environment may increase the value placed on conservation issues by the local community (UD).

¶ Newspapers, articles, newsletters, internet sites focusing on the diversity of the local environment and, to a lesser extent, the management activities, can help increase the community’s awareness and ownership of the local environment (UD).

¶ As a committee we must be more proactive in selling our parks and ourselves. We need to develop more effective ways to ‘spread the news’ – wide distribution of newsletters from our parks, including the broader issues and common perceptions and misconceptions; establish and maintain regular contact with regional and area managers to distribute local information by radio and other media; develop a higher profile as the contact points for the local community (FW).

Education

¶ Establish a ‘know your local park’ week in partnership with the Department of Education where school groups on an annual basis visit and participate in activities suitable for their age group (K–12) (MNC).

¶ Increasing the local environmental content of primary and high school curriculum would be beneficial (UD).

¶ Open Day type events for national parks with resources and people on hand to discuss the local environment, management issues and cultural issues (UD).

¶ Committee members can be part of a variety of educational programs, developed in consultation with, and targeting, local schools, e.g. trial area in park that can be used by schools, Discovery program to learn about NPWS estate close to their local area, extend the range of traineeships offered to encourage skill development across agencies, include apprenticeships/traineeships drawn from the local community (FW).

Local environmental planning

¶ Assist local government planning and liaise with developers to bring about incorporation of remnant and strategically important bushland through wildlife corridors linked into national parks (MNC).

¶ Remnant bushland could be protected via community title with guidelines monitored and implemented by NPWS within new developments, encouraging community ownership, and interaction through working bees (MNC).

Make visiting parks fun

¶ Concerts in the park in regional areas, festival of the squirrel glider, ghost tours (MNC).

¶ Tap into local tourism boards for local assistance (MNC).

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Making voluntary conservation even more attractive

¶ Changes to land tax have made Voluntary Conservation Agreements (VCAs) more attractive, and further incentives should be explored to encourage people to manage land for conservation (SC).

¶ There are good resources sent to landholders with VCAs and Wildlife Refuges (WRs). This information would be of interest and a help to those people either learning about the system, considering applying for a VCA, or managing their land for conservation in an informal manner. Can these resources be made available to the community at large, maybe via the NPWS website and NPWS offices? (UD)

¶ Meetings could be attended with local landholder groups such as Landcare to discuss how a VCA/WR can fit into a property plan. Discuss the sort of areas/habitat that would be valuable to conserve either formally or informally. Offer information resources to help them manage for conservation (UD).

¶ Approach local landholders who have engaged in different types of VCAs to see if they are willing for us to promote them as examples of how conservation outcomes can be achieved by people outside national parks (FW).

¶ Enhance the financial benefits available to those who have a VCA or similar through tax benefits, rate rebates and funds for materials.

¶ Promote avenues for wildlife protection outside the reserve system through a suite of mechanisms, e.g. VCAs, WRs and local delivery of Land for Wildlife (CCHR).

2. Identifying and dealing with wildlife issues NPWS has responsibility for protecting and licensing the taking of wildlife in NSW. Wildlife occurs on and off parks and reserves. Sometimes, the behaviour of wildlife off park can be a problem for people, who then look to NPWS for assistance. NPWS manages a publicly accessible Wildlife Atlas and also a licensing system for people trading in or keeping wildlife.

Are there other issues around wildlife for local communities that we should know about, and how do local communities think they can help NPWS in managing the range of wildlife issues identified?

Organisational impediments

¶ Presently NPWS’ organisation is seen to mitigate against local ownership and meaningful community involvement (MNC).

¶ Negative community attitude is often created by confusion and/or misinformation – results in a feeling of being disconnected from influencing management decisions, which can be counteracted by face to face individual interaction and consultation (MNC).

¶ Advisory committees can accompany NPWS/DEC executive to local communities to discuss and report local community issues on a regular basis (separate from plan of management meetings). Local rangers can then report back to the community on actions and feedback and set up programs that are meaningful for that community – let the community be seen to lead the issues on wildlife management.

Native animals as pets

¶ The possibility of keeping native animals as pets should be discussed, as this would ensure that people value our wildlife (SC).

Wildlife survey and monitoring

¶ Promotion of Wildlife Atlas (MNC).

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¶ Call for volunteers and provide training in wildlife survey and monitoring (MNC).

¶ Work in local NPWS offices to collate local wildlife survey and monitoring information (MNC).

¶ Many local people want to learn about their local wildlife. Education/extension on local species and their ecology would be beneficial and could lead to Friends of the Park, schools and landholders carrying out their own surveys/atlasing. The survey results can then be used to provide information on native animals and feral populations over time, which would then be useful when assessing the effectiveness of feral animal control programs (MNC).

Issuing of licences and permits for research on wildlife

¶ Concern about the manner in which these are issued. No issue with bona fide students or those associated with universities or accredited tertiary institutions. Good communication between centralised officer and field managers is relevant to local factors such as current vulnerability of target species as well as effective feedback of results to assist future management. At the regional and area manager level there is a necessity to have greater liaison with the wildlife licensing officer (FW).

Promote avenues for wildlife protection

¶ Promote avenues for wildlife protection outside the reserve system through a suite of mechanisms, e.g. VCAs, WRs and local delivery of Land for Wildlife (CCHR).

Feral animals and overabundance of native species

¶ Neighbours can help manage ferals and wildlife in interface areas (CCHR).

Theft of native plants and animals

¶ Develop a Parkwatch program (CCHR).

Urban wildlife

¶ Adopt a native species – encourage local schools and organisations to adopt a troublesome species as a mascot, e.g. swooping magpies, brush turkeys, snakes (CCHR).

¶ Promote the positive side of a troublesome species through a festival or ‘day’, such as a magpie festival or snake day or similar (CCHR).

Threatened species

¶ Involve local community in recovery plan actions and actions in threat abatement plans, e.g. brush tailed wallaby (CCHR).

3. Tapping into local knowledge, expertise and resources Local communities have a wealth of knowledge, experience and resources relating to the places they live. Many people have connections with land managed by NPWS that extend back for generations or that are an important part of their identity or values. In addition, communities living locally or adjacent to reserves are impacted by decisions of reserve managers. In many areas NPWS is a major landholder and a significant contributor to the local economy. Often people are prepared to volunteer to help look after places that are important to them. Understanding what people living locally value about parks and reserves and why, is important for the effect management of parks and reserves.

What can NPWS do to identify and tap into these local community resources? What things might impede NPWS and local communities working well together? In what ways can NPWS improve in its role as a member of the local community?

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People are helping parks now

¶ Concept of people helping parks is not new (NR).

¶ Community is engaged in a wide range of voluntary activities, e.g. on-ground works, strategic planning, governance, education (NR).

¶ National Parks regional advisory committees are a good example of people helping parks (NR).

¶ Several areas of work where volunteer support has been drawn on, e.g. bushfire fighting and support, rubbish removal, weed management, flora and fauna surveys, endangered species research, Aboriginal sites search and research, non-regulatory camp ground custodian role, participation on committees and in community forums (BM).

¶ Volunteers act as interpretive guides for community activities (BM).

Community custodianship

¶ Park visitors and recreationists can be critical and have a negative attitude, so when they spot a problem they simply blame the NPWS (BM).

¶ Rather than just lodging a complaint, a constructive approach could be taken in reporting the problem and asking how they might help (BM).

¶ Visitors need to have a sense of community custodianship of the park (BM).

¶ The question for NPWS should not be ‘ah, we have a problem here which is beyond our resources, I wonder if volunteers could help?’, but rather ‘we have a large community base which could be developed, so what could be achieved if it were properly supported?’ and ‘how can the NPWS support the community in its endeavours?’ (BM).

¶ An acceptance of the community’s sense of custodianship introduces an area of potential conflict, when there is a mismatch between those things that volunteers believe to be worthwhile and that which the NPWS considers should be done (BM).

¶ Expand the volunteer policy into a policy on community partnerships, where the NPWS will seek to engage more with the volunteer community (BM).

¶ Involve local service clubs such as Lions, Rotary etc. (FSC).

¶ Involve local historical societies, field naturalists groups and landcare groups (FSC).

¶ There is an impression in the community that the NPWS ‘lock up’ parks and then, because they have privileged access (management trails etc.) the NPWS look upon the estate as their private preserves. This attitude prevails in specific interest groups, thus supporting the need for NPWS to get out and meet the people on a regular basis both on and off the parks (MNC).

Local knowledge and national parks

¶ Registers should be established of people with local knowledge of national parks to encourage collection of information on parks before that special knowledge is lost, e.g. knowledge of plants and animals, knowledge of the history of the use of the area prior to becoming a national park etc (FSC).

Retirees providing professional help

¶ Untapped resource in mentoring younger staff or working on specific tasks pertinent to their professional expertise free of charge (NR).

¶ While older workers may be slower in completing a task, they are also likely top bring the task to successful completion (NR).

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Participation by young people

¶ People helping parks might be used to give younger people an opportunity to experience the work of the NPWS, e.g. short summer programs in Canada (NR).

¶ Planning and supervision of young volunteers needed, which can be a drain on resources (NR).

¶ A ‘greencorps’ type program can offer a range of experiences to potential employees of NPWS and allows seasonal works to be done that would not otherwise be done due to limited resource capability (NR).

¶ A list of local study topics could be placed on the internet with a short paragraph description included, e.g. school project, honours, PhD level. School and university students looking for study ideas could access the topics. Details of accommodation available, transport requirements for suitable candidates could be included. Study categories could include tourism, ecology, society and culture (UD and FW).

Aboriginal communities

¶ A ‘greencorps’ type program for Aboriginal people can offer a range of experiences; however, culturally appropriate and suitable recruitment processes need to be put in place (NR).

¶ The involvement of Elders in the development of programs is essential (NR).

¶ Mixed formal education and practical work experience program would need to have an entry point into employment with the NPWS on a progression with performance basis (NR).

Tailored approach

¶ Programs need to fit the needs and requirements of individuals offering their services (NR).

¶ Need to avoid the ‘one shoe fits all model’ – some volunteers may be prepared to do helping work on a one-off basis for a specific project, whereas others may be prepared to offer their services on a regular basis (NR).

¶ Less structured volunteering could include routine or ad hoc rubbish removal, reporting weeds and feral animals, reporting track and signage problems, signage maintenance, assisting members of the public on popular walking tracks, cultural site vigilance (BM).

¶ Provide opportunities for communities to become involved in projects that are focused on local issues that can generate outcomes generally far more reaching, e.g. conserving the green and golden bell frog in a local community, rather than addressing climate change (CCHR).

Induction and training

¶ Appropriate induction process will not only introduce the individual to an understanding of what the NPWS is all about but will also make the experience interesting (NR).

¶ Generic induction ‘starter pack’ for volunteers; some might be developed online to enable a preview of what they will be doing and what is expected – this will improve the selection process and be less wasteful in terms of drop out rate (NR).

¶ There is a need for a program to train and involve local community volunteers (SC).

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Conservation priorities

¶ Highest priority tasks are generally the concern of rangers and other staff and contractors; they may not be suitable for volunteer involvement due to complexity, risk, timeframes and resource allocation (BM).

¶ Volunteers can get on with the tasks that are not seen as the highest priority and can tend to be overlooked altogether (BM).

Staff employment

¶ Acknowledge NPWS is underfunded for many of its programs (NR).

¶ Careful of impact on the employment of existing or potential staff, issues of regular or contract staff being replaced by ‘helpers’ (NR).

¶ Should not be a replacement employment program or ‘labour on the cheap’ (NR).

¶ Work should be in support of existing programs (NR).

¶ Carefully defined guidelines be drawn up that clearly show the dividing line between supporting work and the work of employees of the NPWS (NR).

¶ A ‘greencorps’ type program can offer a range of experiences to potential employees of NPWS and allows seasonal works to be done that would not otherwise be done due to limited resource capability (NR).

Staff involvement in volunteer management

¶ Critical to the success of any volunteer program is the engagement of existing staff in the development and management of such a program (NR).

¶ Local staff need to determine job functions with attention to proper program support and resource allocation (NR).

¶ Staff may require training in the process of managing volunteers (NR).

¶ Consideration may be given to employment of a full-time staff member devoted to looking after volunteer programs, but on a satisfactory return on investment (NR).

¶ There is a need to put resources into developing liaison between NPWS staff and volunteers (SC).

Resourcing volunteer programs

¶ Needs proper allocation for recruitment, induction, training and management of volunteers (NR)

¶ Covering costs of petrol, safety gear, work clothes etc. (NR).

¶ Needs to be regular and realistic monitoring of costs to ascertain return on investment, which includes tangible costs and outcomes and intangibles in terms of good public relations (NR).

¶ Allocate a significant portion of the total budget (a minimum of 5% but ideally 10%) to fostering the management of volunteer projects, with activities such as arousing community interest, identifying suitable activities and programs, matching volunteer interests to park needs, coordinating volunteers, trainers and supervisors, ensuring continuing cooperation between volunteers and staff, assisting volunteers and NPWS staff to apply for grants, facilitating formation of Friends groups, seeking partnerships with commercial sector (BM)

Recognition of people helping parks

¶ Important to the success of any human resource endeavour that individuals be recognised for their contribution (NR).

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¶ Does not have to be an expensive process – there are many ways of recognising volunteer efforts (NR).

¶ Staff members may also need to be recognised for the work they do in recruitment and supervision of volunteers (NR).

¶ Volunteers need to be sustained – as well as certificates, complimentary passes, BBQs. There is more that can be done, e.g. newsletter, media releases, awards, social occasions (BM).

¶ Most important thing is that volunteers have a sense that they are doing something worthwhile in an area where they have a sense of belonging and also that the NPWS is not using them to save money (BM).

¶ Afford greater publicity to community groups presently working with NPWS by production of local newsletters distributed to surrounding communities; especially important in regional areas where issues of fire, ferals, access etc. get a lot of negative publicity (MNC).

Risk management

¶ Engagement of volunteers has attendant risks, including individuals who may damage the work of NPWS and be there to serve their own needs to the detriment of NPWS (NR).

¶ Care needs to be taken in the selection of individual volunteers; routine police checks should be part of the selection process (NR).

‘Friends of’ Parks groups

¶ Foster groups as independent and incorporated bodies, which have the potential to raise their own funds, can be largely self-sustaining socially, administratively and financially, and can plan, manage and supervise their own activities (BM).

¶ ACT Park Care Model (FSC).

¶ Where Friends of Parks groups do not exist, the NPWS or regional advisory committee should call a weekend or evening meeting to discuss forming a group and outline the things the group may be able to achieve, e.g. weeding, maintenance, surveys etc., with examples from successful groups in other areas (UD).

¶ Establish ‘Friends of’ groups for local parks (CCHR).

¶ Encourage local groups to apply for external funding for projects to be undertaken on-park (CCHR).

¶ Develop local advisory groups or ‘Friends of’ groups for individual reserves (CCHR).

Community toolbox

¶ Make resources available to individuals or community groups and give easy to follow instructions on working with NPWS to carry out activities such as story telling, newsletters, field trips, workshops, open space meetings, photography and art competitions, awards, festivals and community days, special projects, sponsorships designed to help communities carry out these activities in conjunction with NPWS, but do not place the financial or organisational burden on them (CCHR).

Community Support for National Parks Mr Dene Cordes, Community Liaison Manager of the Department of Environment and Heritage in Adelaide, addressed the Conference on how to engage the community in the conservation and management of national parks and reserves by developing ‘Friends of Parks’ groups.

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Community support in the South Australian Parks Thank you, New South Wales!

It is a great privilege to be here, to discuss and share with this Conference the engagement of the South Australian community in the network of National Parks and Reserves.

Twenty-five years ago, I accompanied our Environment Minister and National Parks Service Director to Sydney, to learn about the NSW National Parks Advisory Committees and National Parks Foundation. We received a fantastic welcome, and great help from such people as Director, Don Johnstone, Minister Tom Lewis, Protocol Officer Glen Reid, Foundation Chief Executive George King, and Councillors. To this day, we are grateful, and I am pleased to come back and describe how it helped us to engage the community in Parks.

Why was help needed?

In South Australia, from 1891 to 1972, our national parks were overseen by a Board of Commissioners, all respected community people, who served voluntarily. When the Government dissolved the Board in 1972, it was thought that our brand new National Parksand Wildlife Act would cater for everything. Instead, the lack of community engagement was a disaster, and for eight years the reputation of National Parks and Wildlife was black! There was constant anti-parks media; Rangers were treated shabbily in country towns; the staff were not consulting with local people. Parks were seen as alien lands with weeds and vermin, and paying no local government rates.

So bad did it become that anti-Parks rallies were held at community ovals, attended by a couple of thousand people, and notices were placed in local stores, inviting citizens to the next anti-Parks meeting.

Our Environment Minister, in 1980, decided that something had to be done. We came to New South Wales to learn all that we could about your network of Advisory Committees. I now say ‘Thank You!’ I was directed to start up what we called ‘Consultative Committees’, based on the New South Wales model. Success was amazing.

In the worst problem area, where 300 Ministerial letters came in during the past year, these fell to only three after the Consultative Committee formed – because the community now had an avenue for involvement, advice, and dialogue.

We now have seventeen Consultative Committees, covering the whole State of South Australia. Our Terms of Reference are near to identical with those of New South Wales, but we do not pay out-of-pocket expenses. They are voluntary. A Forum is held each two years, with a Conference of Chairpersons in the alternate year.

Our Consultative Committees have sustained and succeeded for 25 years, and with it, too, the image of national parks has been good. The only problems we encounter are that, on occasions, the Committees get feedback at meetings only on what has happened, but they would like to hear of, and advise on, issues that are ahead. Also, the level of secretarial support is sometimes found wanting.

Friends of Parks

It was our intention, from the outset, to start up a Friends of Parks organisation, but how can you recruit Friends when you do not have any? This is where the Consultative Committees came in. Within two years, they had turned around the public antagonism to such an extent that we were able to move in and call public meetings to start some Friends groups. By 1984, we had half a dozen groups, all of which were an instant success. We then tried the idea in a rural area and that, too, was successful.

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I must mention that because South Australia does not have a big population or a large money base, we knew that the Friends who we recruited needed to be retained for life, rather than for short stints. We needed to tap into the strong South Australian rural pride, parochialism, and generosity, drawing people towards a spirit of local ownership and support FOR THEIR PARK! It worked. We set up each group with a structure, office bearers, and newsletter – each pay their own subscriptions and operate their own funds. The numbers grew every year, especially after I was able to go away under a Churchill Fellowship and learn how volunteering is handled in the United States and Canada. But we made our own model to suit South Australian conditions. I believe it would work well in New South Wales, too, especially in rural areas.

Today, we have 133 Friends of Parks groups, in which 6000 people are members. Each of those member groups formed a state-wide network that then became incorporated.

Once incorporated, and a state-wide constitution adopted, we elected a Management Committee to oversee the State scheme. Such incorporation entitles our group to seek grants from outside South Australia, and to be covered for insurance, at no cost, by SAICORP – a branch of State Treasury.

In 2004, the 133 groups contributed 29 291 days of volunteer labour, equalling 5.858.2 weeks, and the equivalent of 124.6 full-time employees. The monetary equivalent in voluntary labour towards our Parks was $5.25 million. More importantly, those 133 groups raised over $200,000 from fund-raisers and outside grants, and have done so for the past six years.

The four objectives of Friends of Parks Inc. are:

¶ voluntary manual help

¶ fund raising

¶ cultural and educational programs

¶ social activities.

We have a Memorandum of Understanding with National Parks and Wildlife SA, to ensure a good relationship between the Friends network and the Department.

A state-wide forum is held every year, always in a different area, and organised by the Steering Committee of local groups.

The Friends of Parks Inc. won the National Banksia Foundation Award for the category of community engagement. We have numerous Awards for groups, individuals, a Best Friend Medal, a Group of the Year, etc. The successes of Friends have been huge, and people have embraced their local parks just as they embrace their local schools, churches, sports grounds, and community centres. They do, in general, stay in the structured groups because of the bonding and fellowship, each supporting the other.

The challenges, so far, have all been satisfactorily met. We always look for new members, young people (we have quite a lot throughout the groups), and the ever-present threat of ‘burn out’ by volunteers who try too hard. We find that once in each decade we need a public meeting in order to recruit for, and rejuvenate, the groups that have started to dwindle in numbers or office bearers. This ALWAYS is a success.

Another constant challenge is the occasional person who wants to ‘go it alone’ and do their own thing outside the policies and plans of the Department. There are steps in place to handle the loose cannons!

We have, from the outset, liaised closely with the relevant trade unions, and they made a joint public launch of the Friends of Parks scheme with the Environment Minister.

Once per year, we meet with the unions and assess the scheme and jointly look at ways to improve it.

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Training is a big issue. The Friends of Parks Inc. Management Committee successfully obtained grants for on-ground training during the past six years. This enables all sorts of training for our members, and we also invite local Rangers to participate, as guests. Some courses have been: 4WD driving; chain-saw use; first aid; bush care; public relations; venomous wildlife; weedicides and chemical handling – and more.

We operate, within the Friends network, an Adopt-a-Trail; Adopt-a-Heritage Site; Adopt-a-School scheme, as well as ‘getting to know your flora, wildlife, staff,’ and others.

A challenge is to be ever-vigilant and to sustain the level of volunteering within an ever-growing market for people’s time. More and more voluntary organisations are in operation these days, and all are after those precious hours of volunteering time.

As is the case in any system, the degree of Ranger and Regional Manager help varies quite markedly. While some staff will find it easier to say, ‘I’m too busy to supervise volunteers, or to train them,’ others will go and embrace this source of help, support, and friendship. We encourage our groups to work closely with our staff, but to try to be semi-autonomous and not to expect to be pampered. The more they can do by themselves, the more they help our park staff. Some will complain and say that they see a Ranger too infrequently, others say they have a perfect working liaison. Others claim that they are better off if Rangers leave them alone!

Affiliated friends groups

Apart from the groups that were established and instigated by the Department, there are affiliated member groups, too. They are organisations that already exist, but which seek to do voluntary work in parks and to work closely with the Friends network. Some examples are :

¶ Sporting Shooters Association – a tremendous help in ridding our parks of feral goats, cats, rabbits, and foxes. Highly effective and environmentally astute.

¶ Four Wheel Drive Association – volunteers in their own vehicles have clean-up days, and land management working bees in parks where standard vehicle access is too difficult. These sites include beaches and dune areas, deserts, arid mountains, etc.

¶ Field Naturalists, who do monitoring and surveying of native orchids and grasses, and other studies in parks.

¶ Underwater Historical Society – voluntary divers create and interpret marine trails, shipwreck sites, and reefs.

¶ Other affiliated Friends include Wildlife Reserves, such as Gluepot; Biodiversity Surveys; State Herbarium; Nature Conservation Society; and Council Reserves that provide corridors for movement of wildlife.

All are a great help in the network that supports national parks and their wealth of wildlife.

Campground Hosts

During my Churchill Fellowship studies in the United States and Canada, this idea was quite new and was popular.

Rangers have heavy workloads, and yet they want visitors to parks camping grounds to be welcome and well cared for. Rangers do not have time to be tourist managers.

So the idea of Campground Hosts was seen by me as a priority in South Australia. It began in late 1985 in one park. Without any advertising costs, the idea spread by word of mouth.

The Hosts set up their caravan or tent in a National Parks campground during busy periods, both short and long term. They check or issue permits and generally ensure that campers are happy, that hoons are watched and, if necessary, reported to the Ranger.

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The Hosts also help to staff park offices on occasions. They voluntarily attend to ablutions buildings, offer First Aid, and provide information. Some even loan a baking dish, or some coffee, or such small kindnesses.

The Campground Hosts have been a huge success all over South Australia and are now linking up with Hosts in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

We have seventy Hosts who are rostered when they ask to be. They are trained at an annual training day, and they all come together for an AGM and Social Day. They wear a part-uniform and can drive our vehicles if they do a 4WD course.

We have volunteers in our Community Liaison Unit who take care of the rosters.

The Campground Hosts formed into one of the Friends of Parks groups, with their own office bearers, newsletters, grants, and bank account. This means that they are self-supporting, and self-regulatory.

Any complaints, either way, are handled by the Community Liaison Unit.

The Campground Hosts scheme is very popular with campers, the Rangers, and the Hosts themselves.

Nature Foundation of South Australia, Inc.

Once again, I thank the New South Wales Foundation. In 1980, we were entertained by the full Council of the National Parks Foundation, over a dinner. I recall Peter Piggott addressing our delegation. I was helped, in the office, by George King, who explained all the steps to be taken to instigate a fund-raising Foundation.

After our return, the Minister, Director, and I had the inaugural meeting commence within weeks, and the South Australian National Parks Foundation formed in October 1980. A Council was appointed, and the results over the years have been remarkable. Of interest isthe fact that business in South Australia did not rally to the cause for many years. Instead, it was the everyday citizen who, in their hundreds, became members and donors. And businesspeople have followed.

Well over $1 million has been donated now. The greater success has come in by having specific appeals for certain wildlife species, bushfire rehabilitation, endangered and rare species, etc. Our Foundation helps in a small but significant way to run the annual Friends Forum and to provide cash for several major awards.

I am sure that New South Wales has become adept at its fund-raising via its Foundation. We are happy and grateful to have followed and succeeded, too.

National Parks Volunteers Support Group

In 1993, in Adelaide, an Australian Association of National Parks Support Groups (which included Advisory Committees, Friends Groups, and the Foundation) was formed and attended by most State delegates, including New South Wales.

Its name has been modified to ‘National Parks Volunteers Support Group’. Since the South Australian Conference, others have been held in Tasmania, Western Australia, and Victoria. In 2006, the Fifth Conference is to be held in New South Wales, where Lynn Weber is the chief organiser, and towards which we hope that the Foundation might assist.

The idea was, and still is, for the States and Territories to have delegates come together – not in large numbers, but two or three from each State, plus quite a few from the host State.

The delegates have objectives of sharing best practice, making network contacts, checking for consistency in volunteering matters across the nation, and looking for a co-operative way to

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seek incentives for voluntary support of national parks and reserves. We do hope to see a couple of delegates attend from the New South Wales Reserves Advisory Committees.

Last year, the Conference was held in Victoria. Lynn Weber represented NSW, along with another delegate. The issues looked at included a national format for volunteering, ways to provide incentives, sponsorships, a national entitlement card, interchange of volunteers and hosts, best practice, heritage sites, etc.

Already, it has been fascinating to draw on the successes of each separate State, and to avoid the less successful procedures.

I hope that New South Wales in 2006 will host a successful Fifth National Conference.

Heritage agreements

This program enables native bushland to be retained in private ownership, without having to be purchased by the Government, and staffed for its management. It began in 1980, under the SA Heritage Act. In 1985, the Native Vegetation Management Act added teeth to the objective of preventing loss of vegetation.

At present, there are 1319 Heritage Agreements covering 565 000 hectares of bushland. Of these, 750 were financially assisted. The agreements are legal contracts to ensure conservation in perpetuity. They are registered on the Titles, and are binding on future owners. They restrict stock grazing and vegetation planting or clearance.

Heritage Agreement owners are released from payment of rates and taxes, and may apply for land management incentives such as fencing and on-ground works ($800K per year altogether).

The Minister relies on advice from the Native Vegetation Council should an agreement need to be amended. The Department’s Bush Management Unit administers the program (3.8 FTE staff).

The program has been successful for conservation. Some landholders complain that answers to inquiries are too slow and that incentives are not sufficient.

Rejections of applications are few, because there is substantial liaison between a landholder and the Department (sometimes instigated by the Department) prior to an application being lodged.

There is a Friends of Parks group that comprises Heritage Agreements and Sanctuaries owners, who come together for educational, cultural, and conservation ideas.

Negativity or ‘can do’

I am sure that every one of us has encountered heaps of negativity along the way when Advisory Committees or Volunteers are engaged.

It happens in every sphere of life and can retard or destroy a network. Some arise from suspicion, distrust, envy, or fear of ‘them knowing more than us’!

This must be countered with a strong climate of ‘CAN DO’ alternatives, from the top downwards and from basic levels upwards. Almost everything that benefits nature conservation CAN BE DONE.

There is a need for respect for each other; a need to engage, rather than avoid; a need to be on a first-name basis; and, above all, a need to provide consistency for Volunteers and Committees to work within Departments when their personnel change and when departments are reviewed and restructured. But for the community supporters, consistency and solidarity is vital.

Above all, these wonderful people, and the many worthy staff, need to ENJOY their mutual work and surge ahead of the negativities.

Group Discussion

The delegates then split into four colour-coded groups to discuss the issues raised by Mrs Hoffman and Mr Cordes.

The following question was presented to each group to consider:

Having heard the presentations, what do you see as some different ways that we can get the community on board as volunteers and supporters of national parks?

The responses of each group are given below.

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Engaging the Community: Blue Group – Lynn Webber

Question: Having heard the presentations, what do you see as some different ways that we can get the community on board as volunteers and supporters of national parks? ¶ Visitors to parks – interpretation values – will people want to visit?

¶ Impact on indigenous values

¶ People population dynamic – effect of people moving – socioeconomic impact

¶ Good education and communication program – two way

¶ Fire management

¶ Weeds management – need funding – need to prioritise weeds – need to consider fluvial processes and weeds

¶ Feral animals – new threats e.g. insects?

¶ Need integrated pest management

¶ Climate extremes – impacts of droughts and climate extremes

¶ Landscape connections – diminishing contrast between park and surrounding country – CMAs making sure climate change is considered (frames of reference) – off-park connectivity and catchment management – joining the dots in a highly developed landscape

¶ Management of Conservation Values – conservation values for a park – will they still exist?– philosophical debate to manage for current/future values or evolution – should we be managing, or are we able to manage, it anyway? – diminishing contrast between park and surrounding country

¶ scale of impact – effect on balance of vegetation in landscape – large vegetation dieback – threat to extent of habitat

¶ Water – riparian – no control over rain but do implement with access – dams and watering points greater pressure – implications – everyone wants their bit – water wars – conservation and government incentives

¶ Wildlife – migration of species – species movement – compound problems? – wildlife management – disturbed fauna populations – wildlife and plants of national parks – culling wildlife

¶ Planning and monitoring – currency of planning documents – need to be fluid and reviewed – climate change should be core business and NRM and biodiversity programs needed

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– relationships with other States – things moving south (managing their values) – monitoring – survey work to know what’s happening – collect baseline data for future assessment and response – effective resource knowledge – update every 5 years

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Engaging the Community: Green Group – Peter Stevens

Primary messages ¶ Volunteering and support for volunteers is a two-way process. It must be based upon

sound relationships.

¶ Get NPWS staff more involved with effective volunteer programs.

¶ Address union issues, establish better understanding of common potential.

¶ NPWS and RACs to provide more leadership in addressing fears of both staff and management, and establishing mutual benefit programs.

Opportunities¶ Establish more friends groups with simple meaningful and inclusive names (Friends of

Parks dodgy name? Friends of People's Parks?)

¶ Use friends to build support and education about parks, chase external resources, and assist staff.

¶ RACs to drive a review of volunteer policy using presentations from experts and the vast literature on the subject to brief RACs at a special forum. RACs to assist in applying the wealth of knowledge.

Barriers¶ Not all managers engage.

¶ Need support to manage volunteers.

¶ Lack of clear objectives and capacity for Volunteer coordinator.

A way forward ¶ Use RACs as Champions.

¶ Gain higher level of Ministerial involvement (advocacy).

¶ Start by getting an understanding of potential tasks and an understanding of volunteer interests before asking volunteers to do anything.

¶ With RACs, establish programs and activities with a direct benefit to delivery of the future directions goals. (Look at how the process can help achieve overall objectives, rather than just free labour).

¶ See volunteer support as core business.

¶ Publicise and implement the volunteer policy.

Understanding the support base ¶ Supporters do not always volunteer.

¶ Students can assist with research projects (NPWS can input into topics).

¶ 4WD and other groups have significant capacity to assist (we need to give something back).

Characteristics of positive involvement ¶ Fun.

¶ Social rapport.

¶ Awards.

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¶ Trust.

¶ Community respect for agency.

¶ Mutually developed tasks, relevant to PoM.

¶ Staff feel confident.

¶ Tasks with large resource needs can be completed, e.g. track maintenance. Unachievable targets can be met, including the most difficult work.

¶ There can be a shared agenda.

¶ Staff can be assured they will not lose their jobs.

¶ Effective management of groups and respect for volunteers can be achieved by understanding and utilising fields of expertise.

Indigenous community involvement ¶ There is a thirst for genuine exchange and involvement with Aboriginal communities in

the country.

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Engaging the Community: Purple Group – Stuart McMahon

Question: Having heard the presentations, what do you see as some different ways that we can (i.e. NPWS and RACs) get the community on board as volunteers and supporters of national parks? ¶ RACs and Rangers meet to discuss community issues and to plan public forums on park

management – these discussions will lead to: – the development of issues management plans – relevant actions, e.g. setting up ‘friends’ groups – work with existing network of community groups to pick up on implementing actions

from RAC – staff planning.

¶ RAC members meet with community groups, e.g. as guest speakers.

¶ RACs communicate with community groups, e.g. bushfire brigades, to explain issues and planning processes (e.g. joint baiting programs between NPWS, RACs, RLPB, community):

Ý raises awareness and understanding

Ý turns antagonists into advocates

¶ Raise the profile of RACs:

Ý community awareness of RAC involvement as a conduit for community communications

Ý issue of approval processes for RAC media releases – should come from RAC, not NPWS – more flexibility required.

¶ Provide a ‘RAC events’ page on DEC’s website.

¶ Need to involve Aboriginal community groups in all broader community-related planning processes.

¶ Enhance the community’s understanding of ‘what parks are about’, through fiestas and mass media, to counter misunderstandings.

¶ Involve youth, e.g. establish a Junior Ranger Program (as in Queensland and USA).

¶ NPWS needs the capacity to manage volunteers, community involvement and expectations with these processes (including OHS/risk management issues).

¶ Set up risk management processes for volunteer work on parks.

¶ Targeting activities for volunteers – whether they be aimed at social and/or environmental outcomes.

¶ Community involvement in wildlife surveys – raises understanding of issues, e.g. Darling Riverine project.

¶ Enhance staff’s understanding of the values, benefits and issues surrounding community involvement:

Ý raises the issue of resource requirements

Ý need to consider union awareness and involvement.

¶ NPWS staff need a ‘can do’ attitude.

¶ Build links with existing community groups.

¶ Need to raise awareness within the community of how their actions in their own patch impact on catchments and parks and vice versa – i.e. ‘we’re all in the catchment together’.

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¶ Be aware of the International Code for Volunteering – highlights reciprocal responsibilities for community members and organisation.

¶ Create a communication link between the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, RACs and volunteering processes to coordinate the planning for volunteering and fund-raising programs.

¶ Consider establishing a website/page e.g. ‘Farmers Learning From Farmers’ that provides a communication forum for the community to discuss and share information on biodiversity and cultural heritage conservation issues – link to other sites such as CMA, DEC.

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Engaging the Community Red Group – Sue Elks

Question: Having heard the presentations, what do you see as some different ways that we can (i.e. NPWS and RACs) get the community on board as volunteers and supporters of national parks?The group started the discussion with issues in the current ways that PWD engages the community.

¶ A gap in current system is lack of networking in existing groups, including VCA holders.

¶ Other coordination of groups, e.g. Dunecare, which also work on reserve, is not well networked.

¶ Volunteer coordinators established but overworked – not enough resourcing to support them. This results in community expectation not being met.

¶ Some groups do not want formal structure – dilemma in how much support needed.

¶ Need to get ‘can do’ attitude from DEC staff towards community involvement.

¶ What works in one area may not work in another – need to listen to what the community wants re engagement.

¶ Interest groups can have specific issues, e.g. self interest, with an attitude of more rights than others.

¶ There are 13 Friends groups in NSW. The Dec website directs the community to volunteer projects and events – how well is it used? Community may not be aware of the website.

¶ Volunteer management is a different job and needs specialised skill.

Ways to engage the community

¶ Base the volunteer work on a resource that the local community can relate to, e.g. Roto House and Sea Acres Rainforest Centre in Port Macquarie.

¶ Staff achievement award for involvement in volunteer programs.

¶ Target and package volunteer programs properly.

¶ Bush regeneration projects.

¶ Different volunteers could be targeted for different geographic areas and tasks.

¶ Look outside the local community for volunteers with a specific issue.

¶ Use other volunteer groups e.g. Green Corps, prisoner groups, periodic detainees.

¶ Staff to be encouraged to engage in community meetings of volunteers and get out into the field with community.

¶ Seek leadership in the community for support for volunteer programs and events – galvanise community support as a leverage for resourcing.

¶ DEC needs to hire people with specific skills and passions for community engagement, just like it does for rangers with natural heritage skills.

¶ Publish ‘best practice’ examples in community engagement in reserves.

¶ Display to the world how good it is!

¶ Focus message to whoever is going to sell it.

¶ Need to recruit rather than wait for volunteers to nominate – more successful in the long term.

¶ Staff need to be open re engaging volunteers and looking at ideas for engagement.

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SECOND MORNING SESSION: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Chair: Rob Kelly from Central Coast Hunter Range Region Advisory Committee

Advisory Council Report Diana Hoffman provided a summary of the activities of the National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council during the past year, as below.

Report to Advisory Committee Conference from Advisory Council

An overview of activities: November 2003 – May 2005

During this period the NPWS and Advisory Council have been dealing with the structural changes occurring as a result of the formation of the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC). Gradually the Parks and Wildlife Division has settled into its new position within the restructure.

Our new Director General, Lisa Corbyn, and Deputy Director General and Head of Parks and Wildlife Division, Dr Tony Fleming, as well as all the NPWS administrative support staff, can be assured we support their efforts to ensure a smooth transition period. It has been a difficult and stressful time for all involved.

The reconstitution of the Advisory Council has been a protracted exercise for a number of reasons:

¶ The timing of reappointment for Advisory Committees

¶ Composition of Council under the Amended NPW Act

¶ The number of Council members completing their term of Office at April 2004: – Past Chair: Professor Rob Whelan – Central Branch Historic Site representative: Mrs. Margaret Coombs – NPA representative: Dr Steven Lord – NCC representative: Mr Roger Lembit – Scientific expertise: Dr Richard Major (Australian Museum).

Unfortunately, only in recent weeks has the Advisory Council almost reached its full complement!

Summary of Council activities

A summary of the functions, duties and composition of the present Council (as outlined in the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 No. 80, as amended November 2003) is given below:

Advise the Minister on matters relating to:

¶ Attaining the objects of this Act

¶ Development, implementation and review of policies and plans directed to achieving those objects

¶ Strategies to promote conservation of natural and cultural heritage outside the reserve system

¶ Care, control and management of reserved areas and the development, implementation, review, amendment and alteration of Plans of Management for those areas

¶ Preservation and protection of wildlife

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¶ Conservation agreements and conservation areas

¶ Wilderness areas and wild rivers

¶ Any matter referred to Council for advice under the Act.

Composition of Council under the Act, and current members

The Council is to consist of 19 members appointed by the Minister (10 Advisory Council members will attend the Conference).

¶ 4 members of Advisory Committees representing the geographical spread of the reserve system:Mrs. Diana Hoffman—Western Branch, Chair Dr. George McKay—Northern Branch, Deputy Chair Mrs. Wendy Rose—Southern Branch To be appointed—Central Branch

¶ 2 persons with expertise in NGOs concerned with conservation: Mrs. Anne Reeves—NPA Mrs. Jane Judd—NCC

¶ 1 person with expertise/experience in Aboriginal cultural heritage conservation: Ms Christine Ferguson

¶ 2 persons with scientific qualifications in areas associated with conservation of nature: Dr Kent Williams Dr George McKay

¶ 1 person with qualifications in cultural heritage research: Ms Jean Rice

¶ 1 person with expertise/experience in ecotourism and sustainable visitor use: Dr Bruce Hayllar

¶ 1 person representing peak recreational bodies Mr Ron Matthews

¶ 1 person with expertise/experience in environmental education: Dr Ronnie Harding

¶ 1 person with expertise/experience in rural/regional and planning issues: Mr John Verhoeven

¶ 1 person nominated by NSW Farmers Federation: Mr David Hodgkinson

¶ 1 person with expertise/experience in bush fire management: Dr Geoff Cary

¶ 2 persons with experience/planning in Local Government: Mr Robert Gledhill Ms Genia McCaffrey

¶ 2 persons who are members of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee: To be appointed.

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Work is currently under way to establish the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee, so hopefully the final positions will be filled by the end of the year (considering the lengthy process involved in appointments).

NPW Advisory Council meets 4 times per year.

Sub-committees and working groups

The NPW Advisory Council carries out much of its work through the operation of Standing Sub Committees.

The Council has the following Sub Committees:

¶ Management Planning. Convenor: Ms Jean Rice Meets at least once per month

¶ Reservation and Conservation Planning. Convenor: Mr Ron Matthews Meets at least 4 times per year

¶ Research and Policy. Convenor: Dr Kent Williams Meets at least 4 times per year.

It must be stressed that all Sub Committee members are committed to their roles within each Sub Committee, and some members serve on more than one Council Sub Committee.

The following members also serve on Committees within DEC:

¶ Dr George McKay and Ms Christine Ferguson: represent Council on the Audit and Compliance Committee.

¶ Mr David Hodgkinson: represents Council on the Animal Ethics Committee.

We cannot lose sight of the fact that, as Advisory Committee members and Advisory Council members, our brief always is in an advisory capacity.

Should you as, Advisory Committee members, have issues causing concern, consult Council: do this through letters to Head Office at Hurstville. Please make use of the avenues available to allow us all to return to our primary concern: conservation and the environment in all its aspects.

Diana Hoffman, Chair – NPWAC, May 2005.

Group DiscussionThe delegates were given the opportunity to meet with other members of advisory committees and national park staff across their Branch. The focus of discussion was ‘The Year in Review’.

The following questions were given to each group to consider:

1. What have been the main conservation highlights in your Region over the past year?

2. What do you anticipate will be the main conservation highlights and challenges in the coming year?

3. What have been the main conservation challenges over the past year?

4. What do you anticipate will be the main challenges in the coming year?

The responses of each Branch group are given below.

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Central Branch Discussion on the Year in Review: Peter Stevens

2004–05 Highlights ¶ Celebrating the new committees

¶ Achieving ‘on ground’ outcomes (Barrenjoey upgrade)

¶ Joint committee meetings and field trips

¶ Advancing Plans of Management

¶ Exploring co-management and establishing co-management groups

¶ Recreation, visitor research and precinct planning

¶ Jenolan Kaarst reserves transfer and PoM

¶ Willingness of committees to become advocates for NPWS in bushfire management

¶ Commencement of Aboriginal engagement in planning and in management (GBMWH and Central Coast Hunter range)

¶ Effective prosecutions (arson)

¶ Resourcing hazard reductions

Planning committee comments ¶ Greater two-way dialogue with committees

¶ Refine processes for getting key issues on the agenda

¶ Look at getting staff involved and committed to support the planning group

Challenges for 2005–06 ¶ Increasing positive engagement with communities

¶ Addressing connectivity for conservation habitat at landscape scale

¶ Consolidating acquisitions

¶ Placing climate change on the protected area agenda

¶ Education/working better with people in communities

¶ Shifting to a dynamic understanding of biodiversity (addressing climate change risks)

¶ Continuous improvement in processes and partnerships

Highlights 2005–06 ¶ Role of RAC in advocacy

¶ Bedding committees down

¶ Planning

¶ Precinct plans

¶ PoM

¶ Capital works enhancement

¶ Aquisitions

¶ Refining involvement of RACs and communities in bushfire communication and management

¶ Refine the approaches to Aboriginal involvement and co-management

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Northern Branch Discussion on the Year in Review: Sue Elks

Question 1: What have been the main conservation highlights in your region over the past year? The group viewed the continuous Powerpoint presentation and saw this as going part way to answering the above question. The following were also noted:

¶ Eight Aboriginal traineeships undertaken in the last year at Cape Byron

¶ Arakwal joint management

¶ The development of Aboriginal kids’ cultural camps in Mid Nth Coast region

¶ Nandewar announcement

¶ Finalisation of the Yuraygir NP Plan of Management after only 23 years!

¶ Wild dog control in Oxley Wild Rivers NP

¶ Under resourcing of NPWS

¶ Horses in NPs – ongoing challenges

¶ Control of fires – completion of fire strategies

¶ Threatened Species programs initiating community involvement

¶ Development of strategies to address pest issues eg. Bell miner Associated Dieback, Pandanus Planthopper, fire ants, cane toads

¶ Liaison with LGAs and Landcare

¶ Training position for indigenous person

Question 2: What do you anticipate will be the main conservation highlights and challenges in the coming year? ¶ Engaging advisory committees in the planning process for future land use – focus on

current DEC and DIPNR process

¶ Control of ITZs in NPs

¶ Speed limits on roads not controlled by NPWS in NPs

¶ Fire Management Plans in Northern Branch completed

¶ Cape Byron Marine Park finalisation – integration of terrestrial and marine

¶ Rationalisation of renaming

¶ Acquisition of Crown Land without commercial valuation

¶ Not converting Crown Land with conservation values to freehold

¶ Put our decision in the context of climate change – should be included in all plans of management

¶ Implementation of Nandewar decision and complimentary land acquisition

¶ Building linkages across the landscape outside the reserve system – social and physical

¶ Pest management for conservation, not just neighbours

¶ Cultural heritage conference to determine significance (anthropological and physical) in relation to climate change (use cultural mapping)

¶ Forum for dialogue (without fear or favour, broad based), which will advise the Advisory Council, DEC and other areas of government

¶ Liaise with LGAs

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Southern Branch Discussion on the Year in Review: Stuart McMahon

Review of past 18 months – conservation highlights ¶ Progressing plans of management in Southern, all involving community consultation

processes:– Kosciuszko National Park Plan of Management process – South East Forests – Fire management strategies – Budawangs walking and camping – wild dogs/feral animals

¶ Recovery following the 2002–03 bushfires

¶ Adjusting to the new world of legislation and departmental structures

¶ Montague Island seabird habitat rehabilitation

Review of past 18 months – conservation challenges ¶ Feral animal control – horses, dogs

¶ Aboriginal involvement in committees – making it work for all

¶ Managing the park – urban interface

The year ahead (Challenges, opportunities Ý will become highlights once achieved)

¶ Continued preparation and implementation of the various plans of management

¶ Integrating the wider community and visitor interests into management issues

¶ Incorporating climate change into all areas of planning and work

¶ Continuing to build rapport with local communities

¶ Biamanga/Gulaga handback –relationship between the RAC and the new Board of Management

¶ Managing community perception and understanding of the marine park process

¶ Integrating Aboriginal involvement into planning and advisory processes

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Western Branch Discussion on the Year in Review: Lynn Webber

Question 1: What have been the main conservation highlights in your region over the past year? ¶ Mount Grenfell handback

¶ New additions to Narran Lake Nature Reserve and other reserve additions

¶ Ramsar nomination of Noholeche Nature Reserve and Peery National Park

¶ Paroo-Darling Plan of Management development to draft

¶ Hill End Historic Site transferred to Western Rivers Region

¶ Establishing Western Rivers Region – invigorated membership

¶ Construction of parks office in White Cliffs

¶ Gateway project in Wilcannia and workshop

Question 2: What do you anticipate will be the main conservation highlights in the coming year? ¶ Development of Lower Darling joint management advisory committee

¶ Joining the Central West and Riverina advisory committees together

¶ Accolades to Western Branch – support, logistics and distance. Need to maintain the excellent work of staff

Question 3: What have been the main conservation challenges over the past year? ¶ Finalising the Paroo-Darling Plan of Management

¶ Negotiation of Mount Grenfell

¶ State of Macquarie Marshes and water issues

¶ Cultural aspects of RAMSAR – first time to get Aboriginal consensus to go forward

¶ Managing Aboriginal issues

¶ Discussions across government about piping the Ana branch

¶ Operational management of new parks

¶ Community attitudes – weeds, ferals, fire, lock up parks etc.

¶ Outback tourism

¶ Tyranny of distance – logistics for meeting, strategic impacts (connectivity over hundreds of kilometres)

Question 4: What do you anticipate will be the main challenges in the coming year? ¶ Brigalow Belt South – communication with the community and being able to steer the

process, Plan of Management

¶ New advisory committee structure

¶ Politics and social issues

¶ Liaison with wider community – groups, business, etc.

¶ Setting up boardwalk over Peery Lake and consultation with advisory committee, endangered species protection and plan of management

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¶ Water issues in Western parks – access and management issues, compounded by climate change

¶ Visitor and tourist interests going to be part of climate change – park values

¶ CMAs – working with them: – defining role, priorities: what are they going to do?

¶ Aboriginal issues across Western Branch – how do we liaise and relate better?

¶ Climate change – Western NSW first victim, so how are reserve strategies, plans of management, monitoring going to respond? What about acquisitions?

¶ Prioritise money and resources that are limited

CLOSING ADDRESS

Dr Tony Fleming thanked the outgoing Planning Committee and announced the names of the new Committee members for 2006, who were chosen during the last Branch discussion session. He also presented the outgoing Committee with a small token of thanks for their efforts.

The Chairs of each session and the facilitators were acknowledged for their role in the smooth running of the Conference. The guest speakers were also named and thanked for their valuable contributions.

Poem by Patricia GilesCr Patricia Giles, Chair of Sydney North Region Advisory Committee, recited a poem she had written about the Conference.

Climate change Climate Change is causing the snow drops to melt And forcing the seas to rise NSW is getting drier, with more droughts and floods With a rising prevalence of bush fires

Did you see the ‘Hockey Stick Curve’ yesterday? It is reaching for the skies. Lisa is tearing her hair out, Tony’s in despair As dams drop and our water source dries.

Conservation and Community Partnerships Will help us benefit in years ahead, The Advisory Committees are an extension of the organisation We are leaders and must not be led.

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99

So what if things aren’t perfect We will try to do a better job, We leave it to the National Park and Wildlife Managers To deal with the angry mob.

So we will monitor the things affected by Climate Change The native animals and plant species too, But as to coming to grips with stark reality We will leave the problems and answers to you.

Patricia Giles Sydney North Region Advisory Committee

Evaluation Form SurveyDr Fleming requested that delegates fill in their evaluation forms and any suggestions for themes for the next conference. A copy of the evaluation form distributed is provided on page 101.

Results of Evaluation Form Survey

What do you think were the most important issues shared at the Conference?

¶ Networking (4)

¶ Climate change (25)

¶ New directions (1)

¶ Seeing the big picture (1)

¶ How to improve community involvement in parks (13)

¶ Understanding other RACs issues and activities (1)

¶ NPWS’ willingness to adopt changes (1)

¶ Brigalow Belt as a challenge to the community (1)

¶ How NPWS is changing from park management role to conservation role (1)

What can you take back to your Committee from the Conference?

¶ The importance of climate change (16)

¶ The information gained from all speakers (1)

¶ How to engage friends to help parks (11)

¶ How to use your expertise more effectively (1)

¶ Information about the wider work of committees (1)

¶ Thanks from DG and DDG PWD (3)

¶ How to assist in removal of alien species from Kosciuszko National Park (1)

¶ New ways for RACs and NPWS to work together (4)

¶ Commitment of all members of RACs and wish to be involved (1)

¶ There are more challenges than effective solutions (1)

¶ More funding for management is required (1)

¶ Discussion groups worked well with facilitators (2)

¶ Need careful selection of future acquisitions because of climate change (1)

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How would you improve the Conference next time?

¶ More involvement in groups for Planning Committee (1)

¶ No change – liked the format as it was (8)

¶ National park setting would be ideal (7)

¶ Slide shows of committee activities during breaks (1)

¶ After dinner speakers/discussion/quiz (1)

¶ Map of NSW showing Branches, Regions and reserves (1)

¶ Aboriginal working group could suggest a location (1)

¶ Cultural evening with bush tucker (1)

¶ Opportunity to raise state-wide issues would be beneficial (1)

¶ Prefer May to November (5)

¶ Prefer mid month (1)

¶ More aboriginal involvement (1)

¶ More field trips (full day)/social functions (3)

¶ Windows in the conference room (1)

¶ Better coffee! (1)

¶ RACs to provide input prior to the commencement of the Conference (1)

¶ Speakers from other states to discuss community engagement and legislative structures (1)

¶ Break out rooms (1)

¶ Use ‘National Action Plan’ for climate change, as it has recommendations in it (1)

¶ Need definite outcomes from the Conference (1)

¶ Provide outcome summaries at conclusion of meeting (1)

2005 Conference evaluations: summary of ratings survey Excellent Good Satisfactory Poor

Program overall 26 10

Addresses 30 4 2

Question Time 21 11 3

People Helping Parks 15 15

Field Trip 13 5

Food 11 15 7 2

Accommodation 19 10 4

Venue 15 14 6 1

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2005 Advisory Committee Annual Conference Evaluation Form

We appreciate your participation in the Conference. We are keen to hear your views about the Conference and your ideas on how we can organise even better ones in the future.

Your views on the 2005 Conference What did you think about each aspect of the Conference?

Program Overall Excellent Good Satisfactory Poor

Addresses by Speakers on Climate Change

Excellent Good Satisfactory Poor

Question Time with Panel on Climate Change


Session on People Helping Parks


Field trip to La Perouse and Bare Island


Food Excellent Good Satisfactory Poor

Accommodation Excellent Good Satisfactory Poor

Venue Excellent Good Satisfactory Poor

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What you got from the Conference What do you think were the most important issues shared at the Conference?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What can you take back to your Committee from the Conference?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How would you improve the Conference next time?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thanks for taking the time to give us this feedback. Please place this form in the box provided or fax to

Robyn Roche on 9585 6824.

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Planning Committee for 2006The Planning Committee for 2006 was announced and the following people were selected as members:Sheelah Boleyn (Sydney South RAC) – Central Representative Anne Reeves (Advisory Council) – Advisory Council Representative Frank Harrison (Mid North Coast RAC) – Northern Representative Syd Craythorn (Western Rivers RAC) – Western Representative Kevin Mills (South Coast RAC) – Southern Representative.

In closing, Dr Fleming thanked all the participants for making the Conference so worthwhile.

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LIST OF CONFERENCE DELEGATES

Advisory Committees Blue Mountains Region Elizabeth Black Central Coast Hunter Range Daryl Bower Far South Coast Josie Walcott Far West Dick Kelly Hartley Margaret Combs Hunter Christine Prietto Mid North Coast Franklin Harrison North Coast Kay Jeffery Northern Plains Janis Hosking Northern Rivers Richard Gates Northern Tablelands Kate Boyd Snowy Mountains Gaynor Epstein South Coast Kevin Mills South West Slopes Paul Davies Sydney Region Garry McIlwaine Brigid Dowsett Geoff Gudgeon Penny Carl-Nelson Gary Peters Sydney North Patricia Giles Sydney South Sheelah Boleyn Philip Sansom Upper Darling Marie Russell Western Rivers Roy Stacy Syd Craythorn Arakwal Special Advisory Committee & Yvonne Stewart Cape Byron Trust

2005 Planning Committee Central Branch Rob Kelly Northern Branch Lynne Hosking/Helen Brown Southern Branch Bob Ross Western Branch Wayne Leigh NPW Advisory Council Diana Hoffman

NPW Advisory Council Christine Ferguson Diana Hoffman David Hodgkinson Jane Judd George McKay Kent Williams Bruce Hayllar John Verhoeven Ron Mathews Anne Reeves

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NPWS Executive and Staff Branch/Region/Unit Delegate Position Executive Lisa Corbyn Director General Tony Fleming Deputy Director General Parks & Wildlife Division

Carl Solomon Executive Officer to the DDG Reserve and Wildlife Conservation Branch Michael Wright Director Mark Conlon Manager, Policy Planning and Programs Central Branch Bob Conroy Director Geoff Luscombe Blue Mountains Regional Manager Tom Bagnat Central Coast Hunter

Range Regional Manager Chris McIntosh Sydney North Regional Manager Peter Stevens Community Relations Manager

Northern Branch John O’Gorman Director Robert Quirk Hunter Regional Manager Harry Creamer Mid North Coast Senior Ranger Andrew Lugg Area Manager Clarence South

Mark Johnston Northern Rivers Regional Manager Sue Elks Community Relations Manager

Southern Branch Alistair Henchman Director Diane Garrood South Coast Regional Manager

Steve Horsely South West Slopes Regional Manager Steve Redden Snowy Mountains A/Regional Manager Tim Shepherd Far South Coast Regional Manager Stuart McMahon Community Relations Manager

Western Branch Terry Korn Director Steve Millington Far West Regional Manager Wayne Dornbusch Northern Plains Regional Manager David Dutaillis Northern Tablelands Regional Manager Ross McDonnell Western Rivers Regional Manager

Education & Community Lynn Webber Manager Involvement

Guest Speakers Dr Geoff Cary ANU Lecturer in Fire Sciences and NPW Advisory Council

MemberDr Lesley Hughes Macquarie University Lecturer in Ecology Dr Michael Dunlop CSIRO expert in agricultural systems Dr Roger Francey Retired CSIRO expert in global warming and atmospheric changes Dr Paul Downey DEC staff member in Conservation Management Unit Mr Dene Cordes Manager of Community Liaison in the Department of

Environment and Heritage South Australia Mrs Diana Hoffman NPW Advisory Council Chair

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