Australia's Biodiversity and Climate Change
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Colour photographs, Colour illustrations
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Description | Podcast | Features | Sample | Author Information | Related Titles
Description
Australia's unique biodiversity is under threat from a rapidly changing climate. The
effects of climate change are already discernible at all levels of biodiversity – genes,
species, communities and ecosystems. Many of Australia's most valued and iconic natural areas – the Great Barrier Reef, south-western Australia, the Kakadu wetlands and the Australian Alps – are among
the most vulnerable. But much more is at stake than saving iconic species or ecosystems. Australia's biodiversity is fundamental to the country's national identity, economy and quality of life.
In the face of uncertainty about specific climate scenarios, ecological and management principles provide a sound basis for maximising opportunities for species to adapt, communities to reorganise and ecosystems to transform while maintaining basic functions critical to human society. This innovative approach to biodiversity conservation under a changing climate leads to new challenges for management, policy development and institutional design. This book explores these challenges, building on a detailed analysis of the interactions between a changing climate and Australia's rich but threatened biodiversity.
Australia's Biodiversity and Climate Change is an important reference for policy makers, researchers, educators, students, journalists, environmental and conservation NGOs, NRM managers, and private landholders with an interest in biodiversity conservation in a rapidly changing world.
Podcast
Listen to a podcast about the Australia's Biodiversity and Climate Change report which was commissioned by the federal government and was launched at the 10th International Ecology Conference (INTECOL) in Brisbane in August 2009.
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- Analysis based on fundamental ecological principles, which leads to a reassessment of long-standing conservation goals
- A strong focus on the structure and functioning of ecosystems, rather than on detailed climate scenarios (three stylised scenarios are used in the assessment)
- A continuing focus on dealing with existing stressors on biodiversity, and the interaction of these stressors with climate change
- An integrated set of key messages and policy directions rather than a prioritised list
- An innovative regional approach to conservation, designed in synergy with broad socio-economic trends that are sweeping across Australia
Sample
View a sample from Australia's Biodiversity and Climate Change.
Author Information
Will Steffen is Executive Director of the ANU Climate Change Institute at The Australian National University, Canberra, and is also Science Adviser, Department of Climate Change, Australian Government. His research interests span a broad range of climate-related fields, especially on the impacts on terrestrial ecosystem structure and functioning. Will chaired the group that wrote the book.
The other authors include:
Andrew A. Burbidge, Wildlife Research Centre, WA Department of Environment and Conservation and private consulting conservation biologist
Lesley Hughes, Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University
Roger Kitching, Centre for Innovative Conservation Strategies, Griffith University
David Lindenmayer, The Fenner School for the Environment and Society, Australian National University
Warren Musgrave, Consulting Economist and Emeritus Professor, University of New England
Mark Stafford Smith, Research Scientist, Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre
Patricia A. Werner, The Fenner School for the Environment and Society, Australian National University
Related Titles
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