Home > Stressed ecosystems: Better decisions for Australia's future - Recommendations Theo Murphy High Flyers Think Tank 2011
Stressed ecosystems: Better decisions for Australia's future - Recommendations Theo Murphy High Flyers Think Tank 2011
| Title | Stressed ecosystems: Better decisions for Australia's future - Recommendations Theo Murphy High Flyers Think Tank 2011 |
| Publication Type | Report |
| Year of Publication | 2012 |
| Date Published | 01/2012 |
| Institution | Australian Academy of Science |
| City | Canberra |
| ISBN Number | 978 0 85847 305 8 |
| Keywords | Ningaloo |
| Abstract | The management of fi nite natural resources presents
complex challenges for Australia. Many activities aff ect
Australia’s diverse ecosystems including mining,
agriculture, urbanisation, invasive species, tourism,
changed disturbance regimes as well as natural
events such as fl ood and drought. As the demand
for natural resources grows we face diffi cult trade-off s
between what sea or land use should occur where and
at what cost.
Decision making is the process of choosing
between actions and therefore requires a prediction
of the consequence of those actions. Hence robust
decision making for Australia’s stressed ecosystems
depends on reliable models of ecosystems built
on credible scientifi c, economic and social data,
and an understanding of the uncertainties in these
predictions. ‘Models’ (quantitative or qualitative) are
important for understanding the interplay between
human activities and ecological eff ects, identifying
methods to foreshadow and mitigate negative impacts
on ecological systems, and making plans for preserving
and sustaining ecosystems.
The 2011 Theo Murphy High Flyers Think Tank
brought together about 60 early career scientists
and social scientists with diverse backgrounds,
to discuss new approaches to understanding the
eff ects of stress on complex ecological systems.
Four Australian ecosystems were utilised as case
studies for discussion:
a Queensland’s Bowen and Surat Basins
b Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia
c Melbourne’s peri-urban grasslands
d the Murray-Darling Basin. |
| URL | http://www.science.org.au/events/thinktank/thinktank2011/documents/ThinkTankRecommendations2011.pdf |
| Refereed Designation | Unknown |
