BURDEKIN DRY TROPICS NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2016-2026
40 more sustainable and resilient( United Nations, 2013).
Land ecosystems have been able to absorb a third of the human-induced carbon emissions since the 1960s( Lund University, 2015). Semi-arid ecosystems such as the savannas that dominate our region are extremely important in controlling carbon storage. Compared to rainforests, savannas are able to grow more biomass to store carbon taken from the atmosphere. This highlights the importance of protecting our savannas and other dry ecosystems for mitigating climate change.
Coastal and marine ecosystems also have important carbon capture capacity. A new study has identified that the carbon capture and storage capacity of wetland vegetation( known as blue carbon) make our coastal habitats some of the most carbon-rich ecosystems on the planet( Kelleway, 2015). The study found that seagrass, mangroves and salt marsh habitats are more efficient at capturing carbon than rainforests. A recent study between the Australian Government, James Cook University and CSIRO developed methods to identify natural areas that are resilient to changes in climate. Climate-resistant areas were shown to be in locations that included valleys or elevated areas where animals could survive projected warming. Using methods such as this provides strategic direction and gives guidance about where conservation efforts can be focused, for example where nature refuges should be established( Reside, et al., 2013).
Making appropriate land-use planning decisions, such as incorporating coastal management planning and coastal adaptation strategies at a landscape level, is vital to ensure the community can deal with impacts from climate change. Community resilience also includes people becoming more adaptive to changes in their surroundings. This can be achieved by having prior knowledge about climate change and adequate time to be able to make planning and management changes( Marshall, 2013).
Land and water management techniques to improve the sustainability and resilience of natural resources are detailed in other parts of the plan. Using natural resources sustainably includes limiting how much we use and how much we reserve to respond to climate change. Goals and objectives highlighted in the plan include using water efficiently, maintaining soil health, providing nature refuges, and maintaining habitat corridor widths. The way we plan, manage, make decisions and allocate our natural resources will need to be based on a better understanding of how natural resource conditions and distribution will change and account for predicted climate change impacts, such as longer dry periods.
Figure 9- Indicative strategic carbon planting areas
CLIMATE CHANGE