Science and Research
Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and
Biological Diversity Advisory Committee
Commonwealth of Australia, 2001
ISBN 064 254 742 4
The true value of biodiversity to our society is far greater than most people would ever imagine. We now know that we have been taking for granted the many services maintained by natural and managed ecosystems: the provision of fresh water and fertile soil, pollination of our agricultural crops, pest control, flood mitigation and breakdown of pollutants. Our biodiversity provides fish and timber, plants and animals for breeding programs, and genetic material for biotechnology applications. We recognise the intrinsic value of our biodiversity. A great proportion of our tourists are attracted to Australia to see our unique wildlife in landscapes made beautiful by rich natural ecosystems.
In seeking to provide for Australia's growing population and development 1, we have damaged vast areas of Australia. Dryland salinity, soil acidification, toxic algal blooms, soil erosion, siltation, reduced estuarine productivity 2 and declining fish catches are symptoms of ecosystem dysfunction. Unsustainable management practices are impacting on industry productivity and native biodiversity. We now recognise the need to plan for biodiversity and ecosystem service conservation in local areas and across catchments and bioregions. This involves the dual activities of protection of habitat and maintenance of the processes that drive ecosystem function.
The research priorities identified in this report will assist Australians to become better natural resource managers, able to repair the damage as much as is possible and to maintain productive natural and managed ecosystems into the future.
In 1999, the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC ) Standing Committee on Conservation recognised that there was no system in place for identifying areas of biodiversity conservation research that have national priority. A working group of the Biological Diversity Advisory Council was formed to develop a framework that could guide research and funding bodies throughout Australia. The Council produced a discussion paper which was disseminated for public comment in August and September 2000 to stakeholders including research institutions, industry, non-government conservation organisations and government agencies involved in natural resource management. The report was finalised by the newly formed statutory Biological Diversity Advisory Committee.
Fifteen key areas of biodiversity research have been identified. Recommendations are made within each area for research of national importance, much of which needs to be supported on an ongoing basis to complete the work. Areas identified as highest priority research represent key knowledge gaps in our ability to manage and protect Australia's biodiversity resources and the processes that enable ecosystems to be healthy. The application of the recommended research is outlined, as are relevant policy commitments and legislative requirements.
This report provides an explanatory background to the identified biodiversity research priorities, addressing a series of questions:
Some management actions and institutional changes required to conserve our biodiversity have been outlined and a set of principles are suggested for assessing the relative merit of biodiversity research proposals.
The term biodiversity refers to all the components of biological life, its diversity and interactions. This includes ecosystems and the processes that drive their functioning as healthy systems. Living species comprise plants, animals, fungi, bacteria and other micro-organisms. The richness of our biodiversity is expressed in the unique and complex ecological communities found across Australia on land, in the soil, fresh water, estuaries and the sea. While biological surveys have been undertaken across Australia there are still many gaps in our knowledge and much we do not know about even our more familiar flora and fauna. We need, therefore, to take a strategic approach to researching the multiple knowledge gaps to enable us to manage and protect our ecosystems.
Recognising that the gaps in our knowledge of Australia's biodiversity are greater than the resources available to fill them, undertake strategic field surveys to document patterns in species composition across Australia's landscapes and marine waters for plants and animals and selected groups of micro-organisms.
From this, identify native species and map ecological communities as a basis for determining management requirements. Ensure the surveys include habitats and species that are less studied and those that are important for conservation. Develop direct measures and indicators of change in biodiversity in native ecosystems and managed production ecosystems. Recognising the power of information, organise and integrate data and information and make it publicly available on the internet to encourage widespread use by researchers, catchment and marine area management authorities, government and the community.
Ecosystem processes purify water, build fertile soils, pollinate plants, control pests, reduce flood damage and break down pollutants. These processes include the interactions between biophysical and ecological processes, predators and prey, and herbivores and the plants they consume. We need a better understanding of environmental processes so that we can anticipate the effects of human activity on ecosystems, predict the consequences of ecosystem decline on our commercial and other activities and, as a result, develop improved methods of natural resource management.
To provide a basis for maintaining ecosystem services and managing key habitats, investigate ecosystem processes across a range of scales from micro-habitats to bioregions. Identify the ecosystem function of key species. From this better understanding of processes, develop predictive modelling techniques (see priority 12) that allow us to include biodiversity objectives in planning and management (see priority 13).
Investigate the ecosystem function of critical species and groups where changes in their function may cause ecosystems to be threatened. For instance, in key areas where changes in soil condition are causing loss of native biodiversity, investigate the function of soil organisms.
If we are to make informed land-use and land management decisions, it is essential that we have a true cost accounting of the economic, environmental and social value of biodiversity based on a comprehensive identification of the value of ecosystem services. This makes the gains, losses and trade-offs implicit in decision-making more transparent.
Comprehensively determine the environmental, social and economic value of biodiversity components and ecosystem services. Compare short, medium and long term valuations. Develop predictive modelling tools (see priority 12) to make transparent the interactions between processes, changes over time and the trade-offs required when different management and planning decisions are made (see priority 13). Develop financial and other incentive structures and institutional arrangements that foster biodiversity conservation and restoration. Investigate the socio-economic and environmental consequences and effectiveness of these incentives.
The impact of human activities is bringing environmental change at a speed beyond the adaptive ability of most species and ecosystems. Action is needed urgently to conserve species and ecosystems before they are lost or damaged, to restore ecosystems to the extent that may be possible and to prevent further damage. The work needs to be based on the best scientific information available and undertaken strategically to ensure resources are used to the greatest possible effect.
Identify threatening processes in land, fresh water, estuarine and marine ecosystems. Determine the conservation status of plant and animal species and ecological communities.
The potential risks include loss of genetic diversity within species, extinction of threatened species, damage to the integrity of ecosystems so that decline is inevitable, impairment of critical ecosystem processes such as groundwater discharge that would prevent dryland salinity, loss of ecosystem services such as pollination, and irreversible damage to habitats such as draining coastal wetlands that act as fish hatcheries.
Where risks arise from proposed human activities, these can be assessed in advance and prevented or controlled as appropriate. Management strategies and techniques need to be tailored to the particular risks and the environment, and to be monitored and adapted as we learn more. Modelling can assist us to estimate risks and predict effective management approaches.
Identify systems of conservation reserves that comprehensively and adequately represent ecosystems in all environments. Conduct risk assessments to identify the potential impacts of human activities. Develop a range of models to predict: where species and ecological communities could be expected to occur across landscapes, the value of ecosystem services, the probable effects of human activities and other threatening processes on native and managed production ecosystems, and protective management strategies. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of management strategies and on-ground practices so that these can be adapted. Develop and evaluate ecologically sustainable management strategies and techniques for industries. Develop scientifically based educational materials.
We need to plan for biodiversity and ecosystem service conservation on farms, in local areas and across bioregions. Our knowledge of biodiversity and its role in maintaining ecosystem processes needs to be interpreted, made available in a range of suitable forms and actively presented to private land holders, industry, catchment and marine management authorities, government at all levels and the community.
Establish best practice integrated natural resource planning across Australia, taking into account the full economic, social and environmental value of services provided by native ecosystems. Implement ecologically sustainable management techniques in agricultural and other primary production industries, ensuring that ecosystem processes are maintained. Restore soils and waterways throughout Australia. Complete the establishment of and maintain a system of conservation reserves that protects representative Australian native ecosystems including those in marine and estuarine environments. Institute a comprehensive series of financial and other incentives to encourage rational natural resource management decision-making, taking into account the full value of biodiversity conservation.
Faced with the task of deciding which biodiversity research to support among many proposals, criteria need to be developed in accordance with the basic principles below.
The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council strongly encourages research institutions and funding bodies throughout Australia to implement the recommendations in this report. By undertaking and funding the nationally important and highest priority research, we will position ourselves to sustainably use and effectively conserve Australia's unique biodiversity into the future.