Transcript A Terrestrial Observing Network for local and continental management

Dr Neil Gilbert – Manager Environment
A Terrestrial Observing
Network for local and
continental management
An Environmental Manager’s Perspective
Images © Antarctica New
Zealand Pictorial Collectio
• Background
• The Protocol
• Changing context
• The Dry Valleys ASMA management plan
• The Dry Valleys worries of an environmental manager
• The need for “policy-ready” information
• Today the Dry Valleys, tomorrow Antarctica
• Developing an Antarctic terrestrial observing network
• Outcomes to CEP XV (June 2012)
“What is now needed is a sciencepolicy interface that connects the
dots, proposes solutions and sounds
alarm bells on emerging issues”
Sybil Seitzinger, Executive Director of IGBP (March 2012)
“Steady as she goes”…….no longer appropriate
Changing context
Climate change
Non-native incursions
Human impacts
New Treaty members
New value sets
Policy / management response
Quality and timeliness of decision making
Availability of data and information
Strategic thinking and prioritisation
Political will
Map: Australian Antarctic Division
• Antarctica: A natural reserve devoted to peace
and science
• Monitoring a key principle:
• Regular and effective monitoring to
• assess predicted and actual impacts
(Article 3(2)(d))
• facilitate early detection of unforeseen
effects (Article 3(2)(e))
ASMA 2 – the Dry Valleys
• Adopted 2004
• Revised 2011
• Key components:
• Protection objectives
• Management Activities
• Management Group
• Code of conduct
• Guidance material for
zones
www.mcmurdodryvalleys.aq
ASMA 2 – the Dry Valleys
Objectives include:
• Long-term protection of key
values by minimising
cumulative impacts
• Prevent introduction of nonnative species and transfer of
native species
• Understand natural
processes and human
impacts through monitoring
• Next review due in 2016
Dry Valleys Management Group
CEP
US
NZ
Italy
Korea
IAATO
ASOC
• Irregular meetings
• But ambitious work plan
Management Group concerns – not all about cc
Zones
• Are the Dry Valleys all one place?
• Can we characterise the biogeographic zones of the Dry Valleys?
(In hand!)
Native species
• What are the risks of transferring native species – between
zones / valleys / lakes?
• Are there important or unusual assemblages?
• Biodiversity map (In hand!)
Non-native species risks
• Which zones / habitats are most at risk?
• What preventative procedures should we be adopting now?
Management Group concerns
Human activities / impacts
• How do we assess cumulative human impacts?
• Camp sites / walking tracks / helo landings / sampling
• Should tourists be allowed to visit? If so, where?
• Coastal sites vs inland sites
Intrinsic values
• How significant are the freshwater systems?
Climate and environmental change
• How (and how fast) will the Dry Valleys respond?
• Should we be establishing inviolate areas now?
Robyn Andrew, Gateway Antarctica,
University of Canterbury (unpublished)
Malcolm McLeod, Landcare Research
(unpublished)
A Dry Valleys observing network
Key ingredients:
• End user demand
• Framework approach
• Prioritised monitoring objectives
• Agreed methodologies
• Temporal and spatial components
• Data management
• Reporting
• Oversight – DV Management Group + DV Observing Network
Steering Group
• Regular workshops / review
• Enhanced collaboration between national programmes
An Antarctic terrestrial observing network
Stars aligning
• ATME on climate change (April 2010)
• 30 recommendations
• CEP XV (June 2012)
• Progress on ATME recommendations
• Consideration of monitoring in protected areas
• Methods for monitoring (remote sensing)
• Antarctic Biogeographic Conservation Regions adopted
• Non-native species surveillance strategy endorsed
• Antarctic Environments Portal Project encouraged
An Antarctic terrestrial observing network
ATME on climate change 2010
•Recommendation 14: ……development of sustained integrated
observing systems using in situ, air and space-based
techniques.
•Recommendation 20: ……priority attention should be paid to
regions considered to be at high risk of climate change impacts
as well as to existing protected areas established to protect
biological values.
•Recommendation 27: …….adequate monitoring programmes are
established to provide an understanding of climate change
induced responses in species distribution and abundance.
An Antarctic terrestrial observing network
•CEP XV …….agreed to establish a network of sites for monitoring
species distribution and abundance, with priority afforded to
ASPAs designated for their flora and / or fauna diversity and
abundance.
•CEP XV …….recognised the value of applying consistent
monitoring methodologies at ASPAs so that changes …….can be
compared continent wide to obtain a more comprehensive
understanding of climate change effects in Antarctica.
Morgan et al. (2007, Landcare
Research Report)
21 Environmental Domains
Terauds et al. (2012, Diversity and Distributions)
Chown et al. (2012). Increase in annual cumulative degree days
indicating risk of alien species establishment
Observing Network examples
• Arctic examples…quite excellent!
Summary
• High standards of protection in place in Antarctica
• DV ASMA particularly special
• Never been a more important time for science /policy dialogue
• Dry Valleys
• Ongoing management challenges
• Observing network established in conjunction with
Management Group
• The first ASMA with robust observing network in place
• Antarctica
• AnTONet – the time is right!
• DV a model example