Download Wetlands Research Association Inc.

WETLANDS RESEARCH ASSOCIATION INC.
Registered No: A1007876D
12 Monger St Perth WA 6000
Phone: 0427473705: Fax: 9227 3503
25th May 2009
Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council :
Review of the National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy
The Wetlands Research Association is pleased to be given the opportunity to make a
submission on the Review of the National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy
The Wetlands Research Association is a non-profit executive committee comprising
professional personnel with expertise in geoheritage, wetland ecology, hydrology,
soils, and vegetation; focused on education, wetland protection policy development,
and assisting community groups in managing local natural resources.
The Wetlands Research Association agrees that to reverse the decline of Australia’s
loss of biodiversity must begin with immediate action, and long term planning. The
strategy outlines the activities that must begin straight away and those that are needed
to effect longer-term change with a minimum 10-year outlook. However, the
Wetlands Research Association does not agree with some aspects of the philosophy of
the strategy, i.e., objectives and outcomes that do not include the abiotic, and as such,
it not agree that all actions required to reverse the decline of Australia’s biodiversity
rest within the Strategy’s list of six ‘priorities for change'.
The Wetlands Research Association submits that there are at least two additional
actions required to reverse the decline (or maintain, our words) of Australia’s
biodiversity. Therefore, additionally:
1. in an Ecosystem approach to managing environmental systems, a holistic
approach is required, i.e., an approach that includes both the abiotic and
biotic, i.e., for the former, geology, hydrologic and geomorphic processes
that underpin biodiversity must be understood for the strategy to be
successful,
2. there needs be be suitabley qualified personel, trained in Earth Systems, as
land managers, i.e., education and training is required
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Using the Ecosystem Approach, recognition of geodiversity in any region is important
in that geodiversity, in its variety of landscapes, lithology, sediments, soils, and
hydrological settings underpins biodiversity. Linking geodiversity and biodiversity
stresses the relationship of biodiversity to Earth systems, and emphasises the
importance of geodiversity to understanding biodiversity. The reason for this is that
biotic systems, and especially vegetation, are strongly linked to habitats, and variable
landforms, soils, and hydrologic processes result in variable habitats. Where fauna
are linked to vegetation types, or to soil types, then diversity in vegetation and
landscape/soils may result in faunal diversity. It is the “diversity of plant
assemblages” that most clearly mirrors geodiversity, and in a region of rich
geodiversity there will be a corresponding rich development of plant assemblages.
We provide the example of the Walpole-Nornalup Inlet system as an example of an
estuary in southern Western Australia that illustrates the link between geodiversity
and biodiversity (Semeniuk et al 2009). Using structural and floristic criteria to
categorise vegetation types (or assemblages), the wetlands and the vegetation
peripheral to the estuary exhibit over 100 different vegetation assemblages (or
“ecological communities”) - these are related to geodiversity.
In summary, we submit that in addition to the 6 points identified, to meet the
objectives of the Biodiversty Convention, and the Australian Biodiversity
Conservation Strategy requires an Ecosystem approach that recognises the link
between the abiotic to the biotic (this is because the abiotic underpins the biotic, and
the biotic follows the abiotic), and the need for suitably qualified land managers.
Yours faithfully,
Margaret Brocx
Dr Kathy Meney
Dr Vic Semeniuk
Brocx M & Semeniuk V 2007 Geoheritage and geoconservation – history, definition, scope and scale.
Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 90: 53-87.
Brocx, M 2008 Geoheritage: from global perspectives to local principles for conservation and planning.
Western Australian Museum.
Semeniuk V, Semeniuk C A, Tauss C, Unno J & Brocx M 2009 Walpole and Nornalup Inlets:
landforms, stratigraphy, evolution, hydrology, water quality, and biota. In Press, Western Australian
Museum (Monograph).
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