Forum: Land and Biodiversity at a Time of Climate Change Green Paper
To celebrate World Environment Day 2008, the Biosphere Foundation—in partnership with the Victoria Naturally Alliance, Western Port Greenhouse Alliance and Frankston City Council—held a forum on the Victorian Government’s Land and Biodiversity at a Time of Climate Change Green Paper.
The forum focussed on climate change and its impacts on the already highly stressed flora and fauna of the Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne’s south-eastern fringe. It also encouraged submissions to the Land and Biodiversity Green Paper process, which closed on 30 June 2008. See the Biosphere Foundation's submission (PDF 135 KB).
Presentations
Dr Roger Jones is Principal Research Scientist with CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research and Lead Author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Working Group II Fourth Assessment Report Chapter on new methods and characterisation of the future. Roger gave an overview of how climate will affect the Victorian landscape over coming decades and how that may affect some of our key ecosystems.
Download presentation (PPT 3.78 MB)
Georgia Garrard is a researcher engaged by RMIT’s Re–imagining the Australian Suburb Project. She is investigating the techniques used to conduct flora surveys for biodiversity monitoring or environmental impact assessments. She is particularly interested in the detectability of plant species during such surveys, especially that of rare species.
Georgia detailed the challenges to conserving biodiversity in urban fringe areas. She dealt with planning strategically, accounting for the uncertainty in natural systems, and failure of policy and legislation. She discussed ways that these challenges might be addressed, with particular reference to the initiatives and suggestions that have been set out in the Green Paper.
Download presentation (PPT 2.2 MB)
Further information on the Green Paper
The Land and Biodiversity at a Time of Climate Change Green Paper is a precursor to the final White Paper, which is due for release in mid-2009. The White Paper will:
- Set the direction for Victorian Government policy and investment priorities in natural resource management, land health and biodiversity for the next 20-50 years.
- Consider how environment and natural resource management activity at the regional, catchment, local and farm scale, and on public land, is contributing to Victoria’s overall environmental health.
- Aim to ensure that Victorian Government policy and investment is responsive to new threats and opportunities.
The Green Paper provided the public with the opportunity to have input into the development of the White Paper. (Submissions closed on 30 June 2008.) See the Biosphere Foundation's submission (PDF 135 KB).
Further information is avaliable at:
- Department of Sustainability and Environment
- Environment Defenders Office (independent analysis of submissions on the Green Paper PDF 496KB)
- Victoria Naturally