I am lucky to be at home, listening to a radio interview on Radio National, with Dr Michael Dunlop, Senior Researcher with Ecosystem Sciences at the CSIRO, and they are talking about how our landscapes are changing and will change - substantially in the next 20-30 years. (I am making a note of what he says, as it has cogency in relation to how our urban landscapes are also changing, and actually feeds the conversation in both 'camps'.)
He is saying, we can expect these transformations to happen over the whole of Australia - forests turning to woodlands, woodlands changing to grasslands, and this is something that we will all start to notice over the next few decades. He even says our Australian bush will start to smell different - and we will see new species coming to dominate and others disappear. The study uses modelling and observation as to how biodiversity is changing.
We will see more complicated weather patterns and fire patterns and river flows in Australia, and so it will be harder to interpret what is going on. Eg in Tasmania we are seeing new native and exotic species, and not necessarily caused just by climate change.
So we need to change our conservation mindset. It's not going to be just about maintaining the type of species that are there now, we will have to adapt, and 'help biodiversity adapt' he says. Some species will have to move, and so it will be vital to rethink how we focus on one or another species, and instead adopt a 'landscape as a whole' approach rather than a threatened species approach.
This means our national parks and reserves are so vital. These are designed to provide for a range of habitat so even if one species leaves, it's an invitation for others to come in. Private land is also key in providing habitat.
He does acknowledge (despite his fairly positive tone) that we won't be 'passing on as rich a landscape to our grandchildren' but he hopes that with our guidance, we can still provide the best opportunity for many, many species to survive, including new ones.
An interesting outlook and one which no doubt will throw up a bit of controversy amongst conservationists.
Blooming and Bold
Without the buzzards and bees
Where would we bee?
A blog by Nicolle Kuna
A blog about sustainable landscaping and some eco-humour and eco-creativity.
Inside this blog we look at everything that is encroaching in to our natural urban landscapes – outdoor rooms (errchkem), weeds, urban noise, excess nutrientsThere’s a bit of art to add extra colour and inspiration. We believe in making sustainability fun - more gaming, less shaming.
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To contact us – go to the contact us page http://www.converseconserve.com as the contact facility on this blog has been giving us mischief.
Attribution for above garden design goes to
Andrew Jones, talented artist and designer.
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