Kakadu National Park is renowned world-wide for its iconic landscape, composed of a diversity of wetland types ranging from intertidal mangrove forests and mudflats, to permanent billabongs and vast expanses of seasonal freshwater marshes.
Kakadu National Park is renowned world-wide for its iconic landscape, composed of a diversity of wetland types ranging from intertidal mangrove forests and mudflats, to permanent billabongs and vast expanses of seasonal freshwater marshes.
The Stage I Kakadu Ramsar site was listed as one of the first Australian wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Later, the Stage II Kakadu Ramsar site was nominated, resulting in a total of 683,000ha.
We were commissioned to conduct an Ecological Character Description (ECD) of the Kakadu Ramsar sites.
The study primarily involved an assessment to identify critical processes, components and services of the wetland ecosystems. This assessment relied on input from individuals with extensive experience with the Ramsar sites. A consultation component of the study was conducted in Jabiru. As part of this process, significant threats to the wetland services were identified, information gaps highlighted and conceptual models of ecosystem functions developed.
Quantitative and semi-quantitative limits of acceptable change to critical wetland habitats and species was also developed as part of the study. These limits of acceptable change will need to be assessed in the context of future activities that may affect the ecological character of the wetland as a matter of national environmental significance.
Currawinya Lakes is a wetland of international importance declared under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Located in the semi-arid zone of southwest Queensland within the boundaries of the Currawinya National Park, the Ramsar site displays a unique assortment of wetland types.
In association with Buckley Vann town planners and the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Queensland (UQ), we undertook a climate change vulnerability and adaptation planning study for the remote centre of Choiseul Bay, at the northern tip of the Solomon Islands.
We have led the development of coastal hazard maps (sea level rise, storm tide inundation and erosion) for the City of Cairns in Far North Queensland and used this information to undertake a risk assessment of assets and infrastructure of the City under three timeframes (current, 2050 and 2100), incorporating climate change projections.
In partnership with the University of Sydney and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), we are helping to prepare new national guidelines regarding climate resilient materials.