Namoi Catchment Action plan ( ): Applying Resilience Thinking at the Catchment Scale

Transcription

1 Namoi Catchment Action plan ( ): Applying Resilience Thinking at the Catchment Scale April 2012 Dr Francesca Andreoni Program Manager Strategy & Planning

2 Introduction Overview of Resilience Thinking conceptual framework Process to develop resilience based CAP Outline of Namoi CAP thresholds and targets Resilience based investment planning process

3 Map of the Namoi

4 Resilience Approach: What is it?: What does resilience mean? - The capacity of a system to absorb disturbance and reorganise so as to retain essentially the same function, structure and feedbacks to have the same identity

5 Resilience thinking accepts people are part of the natural system and are underpinned by natural resources. Therefore social-ecological systems are defined.

6 Resilience thinking accepts that things are changing (and always have). Drivers of change and potential shocks are identified.

7 Resilience thinking accepts that trying to hold natural systems in place or return them to previous states may not be possible. Therefore trends, drivers, variables and conceptual models of how the system works are needed.

8 Floodplain flows Reduces river incision promoting bankfull flows Riparian vegetation Low sediment load promotes connectivity Better quality water provides increased uses Hydrological connectivity System flush Surface water quality Quantity to flush system Floodplan Management enhances Poor quality floodplain flows limit use Poor quality instream flows limit use & degrade Increase uses Provides Environmental services High sediment can reduce recharge Link with local aquifers Stable bed & banks increase connectivity In-stream flows Promotes potential linkages Local flows Promotes healthy vegetation Increases Water for vegetation recruitment & growth Enhance Promotes naturalised flows Reduces risk of saline aquifer intrusion Groundwater recharge Groundwater availabiltiy Create mass recruitment events Habitat & resources Enhances functionality Crtical mass & recruitment Reduces risk of saline aquifer intrusion Floodplan Management reduces damage Promotes stability through vegetation health Riparian buffers Species Provides stable structure for habitat Sustainable usage Habitat provided Bed & bank stability Filtering & stability Increase Species use Filtering & stability River geomorphology Stable bed & banks increase quality Optimal level of surface water quality Increase use Water for the environment Habitat & resource for aquatic & terrestrial species Groundwater quality Better quality water provides increased uses Water for the people

9 Resilience thinking tells us that we must know what we need to do to establish the resilience of natural assets so that we can continue to rely on them despite changes and shocks. Therefore implications of continued trends and shocks on the asset are identified.

10 Resilience thinking accepts that there are often limits to how far a system can be pushed before it changes to a different and undesirable state. Therefore possible undesirable states should be identified.

11 Resilience thinking relies on a focus on thresholds ( tipping points ) between alternate states (or regimes ) of a system. Therefore thresholds are identified where possible.

12 Types of threshold: V2 no threshold V2 step change threshold V1 V1 V2 threshold with alternate V2 stable states irreversible threshold change V1 V1

13 Why are thresholds important in the CAP? - Critical thresholds are the link between the evidence in the Resilience Assessment and the CAP. - Start with the threshold and develop a target to keep from crossing it/move away from it. - Refine the target and then decide on actions and who could be involved

14 Namoi CAP Structure Executive Summary & Introduction Defining the Catchment } Identifying assets Identifying shocks and drivers of change. Trends State of the Catchment Conceptual models, Thresholds, Targets and Actions (Land, Water, Biodiversity, People) Who does what (roles/lead entity) Mapped priorities. Benefits statements (alignment with plans and policies) Resilience thinking detail provided in Resilience Assessment (Supplementary Document 1)

15 cont. Implementation Investment planning Collaboration Adaptive Management Monitoring and Evaluation References & Appendices Objectives for the review Approach used to develop CAP Alignment with standard for quality NRM Outline of NRM framework in NSW NCMA staff structure

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17 Figure 1: Conceptual model Critical functions of the Namoi Catchment Social Adaptive capacity Well being Economic Agricultural viability Other Industries Maximum Choices Productive land Fresh & available surface water Fresh & available ground water Biophysical Healthy soils Extent of woody vegetation cover Complexity of vegetation cover

18 Biodiversity Thresholds Critical thresholds identified through the resilience assessment: Woody vegetation cover Regional Vegetation Communities (ecosystem diversity) Population size/area for threatened species/communities Presence/density of invasive species

19 4 Catchment Targets for Biodiversity Vegetation extent Regional Vegetation Communities Threatened species Invasive species

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22 Land Thresholds Critical threshold identified through the resilience assessment: Groundcover is at least 70%

23 1 Catchment Target for Land By 2020 there is an improvement in soil health as measured by an increase in groundcover at the paddock, sub-catchment and catchment scales.

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25 Water Thresholds Critical thresholds identified through the resilience assessment: Surface water flow Geomorphic condition Recruitment of riparian vegetation Agricultural and urban supply aquifers (quality) Alluvial aquifers (level) Groundwater levels for groundwater dependant ecosystems Wetlands

26 3 Catchment Targets for Water Riverine ecosystems Groundwater systems Wetlands

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30 People Thresholds Critical thresholds identified through the resilience assessment: There is no clearly defined threshold relating to people. Rather a focus on the generalities of building resilient social capital by increasing adaptive capacity and sustaining or improving well being are considered important priorities.

31 2 Catchment Targets for People Natural resource management decisions contribute to social wellbeing. There is an increase in the adaptive capacity of the Catchment Community.

32 Investment Plan development

33 fresh lens to look at tired old problems uncluttering of the NRM agenda

34 Further information The September 2011 Namoi Catchment Action Plan (Ministerial approval pending) and the Preliminary Resilience Assessment of the Namoi Catchment are available online at