An introduction to the Ramsar Convention on wetlands
- Authors: Gell, Peter , Finlayson, C. , Davidson, Nick
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Ramsar Wetlands: Values, Assessment, Management Chapter 1 p. 1-36
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- Description: The Ramsar Convention on the conservation and wise use of the World’s wetlands was agreed in response to widespread recognition of the declining condition of wetlands and the impact of this on wetland habitats and associated fauna. Since 1971, over 2000 wetlands have been listed as internationally important by 172 countries and covering more than 2,000,000km2. There have been considerable advances in the scientific understanding of wetlands, and today, the monitoring of these systems draws on multiple disciplinary approaches. The Convention itself has responded to these advances and the ongoing challenge to conserve the world’s wetlands. Importantly, signatory nations regularly report on the condition of wetlands, update listings, and have adopted a framework to ensure wise use of all wetlands. In turn, healthy wetlands are increasingly seen to afford considerable ecosystem services to human communities that rely on them for the provision of food and water and recreation and for their cultural and aesthetic values. Whilst the Convention has now passed its 50th anniversary, it is increasingly recognised that wetlands continually change over many time scales and that direct human pressures are merely one of the drivers that affect wetlands. The monitoring of these changes continues to allow the Convention and signatory nations to amend the framework to reflect emerging understanding of wetland change. These advances enable the Convention to encourage, and better allow, signatory nations to pursue social and economic outcomes whilst continuing to contribute to the pursuit of conserving the natural assets accommodated within the global network of significant wetlands. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Cultural landscapes : human impacts on wetlands
- Authors: Mills, Keely , Jones, Matthew , Hunt, Laura , Saulnier-Talbot, Emilie , Elias, Deevena , Nankabirwa, Angela , Lejju, Julius , Gell, Peter
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Ramsar Wetlands: Values, Assessment, Management Chapter 10 p. 237-258
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Wetlands provide a wealth of ecosystem services to people, including ecological, economic, and socio-cultural benefits. However, more than 30% of freshwater species are threatened with extinction, and freshwater biodiversity is declining faster than that observed in oceans or forests. When it comes to the management of wetlands, it often occurs too late and when ecosystem services to people are at risk of being lost. It is easy to observe and monitor the recent impacts of people on wetland systems, but the changes we see today are a product of hundreds, even thousands of years of direct and indirect human impact. Without a deeper understanding of the long-term context of human impacts on wetland systems, it is impossible to manage the problems they experience (such as changes in hydrology, nutrient loading, acidification, and salinisation). Despite the 20th century being the period in which humans have exerted the greatest impact on wetland systems, it was also the period in which we developed a greater appreciation of wetlands as anthropogenically altered landscapes, and, maybe paradoxically, the benefits that accrue from healthy wetlands. Palaeolimnological approaches allow an understanding of wetland system variability over millennial scales, providing background context for anthropogenically forced change. This palaeo-perspective enables a deeper understanding of the long-term context of human impacts on wetland systems and can provide a fresh perspective when managing impacted systems. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Management effectiveness of wetland-protected areas
- Authors: McInnes, Rob , Gell, Peter , Finlayson, C.
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Ramsar Wetlands: Values, Assessment, Management Chapter 14 p. 357-376
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- Description: The effective management of wetlands requires a sound policy foundation that recognises the full range of states through which a wetland may pass, the drivers of change and their periodicity, and the trajectory of present change relative to past conditions. A management plan should suit the local requirements, and be as large or complex as is required for any specific site. While the format and presentation of a management plan can vary, the process comprises six steps to implement actions to achieve the management goals, namely: Why are we here? What have we got? What are the important features? What are the important influences? What do we want? What must we do? Based on general requirements for effectiveness tracking in protected areas, a specific Ramsar Site Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (R-METT) has been formally adopted by the Ramsar Convention. This is designed to be simple and rapid to assist site managers and to facilitate wide uptake of the approach. The evaluation questions in R-METT were designed to be easily answered by the management authority without any additional research or intense and costly data collection. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
The response of wetlands to long-term climate change
- Authors: Riedinger-Whitmore, Melanie , Gell, Peter , Mills, Keely
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Ramsar Wetlands: Values, Assessment, Management Chapter 8 p. 195-217
- Full Text: false
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- Description: The Earth has been subjected to cyclical climatic variations that are attributable to a range of forces that have return times ranging from days to many millennia. Most of the world’s wetlands were formed since the last glaciation, yet they have varied greatly in condition even through the relatively stable climates of the Holocene. Many wetlands listed under the Ramsar Convention have experienced conditions that are different than those observed at the time they were listed. Cyclical changes that drive natural variation will continue to influence wetlands. These natural drivers, however, will combine with anthropogenic influences that will alter the natural ecological character. As many wetlands change, Ramsar reporting will be faced with assessing changes in condition and accommodating the expectations of nations to provide guidance that can help manage these driving forces. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Wetlands and future change—Implications and opportunities with the Ramsar Convention
- Authors: Gell, Peter , Davidson, Nick , Finlayson, C. , Herb, Andy , McInnes, Rob , Pittock, Jamie , Pritchard, Dave
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Ramsar Wetlands: Values, Assessment, Management Chapter 20 p. 555-561
- Full Text: false
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- Description: In the face of global-scale decline in the extent and state of the world’s wetlands, the Ramsar Convention has mobilised most of the world’s nations to support the conservation and wise use of wetlands. Whilst wetlands continue to be lost and their condition overall continues to decline, the Convention has played a significant part in assisting nations to mitigate pressures and preserve values and ecological assets. The pressures on wetlands will continue, and the Convention could continue its valuable contribution by increasing the awareness of the value of, and risks to wetlands, assisting Contracting Parties to plan for and accommodate change in wetland state, including that driven by climate change, recognising wetlands as socio-ecological systems, and refining the practice of wetland restoration. There remains much opportunity to extend the technical and management capacity that can be catalysed by the Convention to all nations to address the conservation and wise use of wetlands across the globe. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
What’s happening to the world’s wetlands?
- Authors: Davidson, Nick , Finlayson, C. , McInnes, Rob , Rostron, Chris , Simpson, Matthew , Gell, Peter
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Ramsar Wetlands: Values, Assessment, Management Chapter 9 p. 219-235
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Wetlands worldwide are in trouble. Their area and condition have been, and are, in continuing decline. Through drainage and conversion to other land uses, the area of natural wetlands is decreasing, although the extent of losses is uncertain: since 1700 AD loss is likely to be less than 87% but more than 21%-36%. Although more wetlands are currently reported to be in good than poor ecological character state, more are deteriorating than improving in state, and deterioration is becoming increasingly widespread. There continue to be challenges in making quantitative assessments of wetland state and trends in state, including in defining baseline and reference conditions. Longer-term palaeoecological records can help separate change from variation, and inform establishing appropriate baselines for wetland assessment and management. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Changes over time
- Authors: Gell, Peter , Perga, Marie-Elodie , Finlayson, Max
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Freshwater Ecology and Conservation: Approaches and Techniques 13 p. 283-305
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- Description: Freshwater ecosystems occur on all continents and have been described and classified by a diversity of terms and definitions (Finlayson and van der Valk 1995; Mitsch and Gosselink 2015; Gerbeaux et al. 2018). These are dynamic systems in which the hydrology and geomorphic setting can be affected by natural and anthropogenic activities interacting at multiple spatial and temporal scales to influence the components,biogeochemical processes, functions, and ecosystem services they provide (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005). Defining and classifying freshwater ecosystems into categories(e.g., rivers and streams, lakes and reservoirs, and wetlands) has generally been based on a combination of features, including the landform and geomorphic setting, physical dimensions, vegetation, water quality and water regime, soils, and as habitat for specific fauna (Semeniuk and Semeniuk 1997).
Managing freshwater protected areas in the global landscape
- Authors: Finlayson, C. Max , Davidson, Nick , Gell, Peter , Kumar, Ritesh , McInnes, Robert
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Freshwater Ecosystems in Protected Areas: Conservation and Management Chapter 12 p. 221-241
- Full Text: false
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- Description: The increasing demand for freshwater, as well as uncertainties associated with climate change, has placed growing pressure on wetland and natural resource managers to develop sustainable approaches that extend across landscapes and ensure the many benefits we obtain from freshwater wetlands are not further reduced.
The Coorong: Murray-Darling river basin (Australia)
- Authors: Gell, Peter
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: The Wetland Book II: Distribution, Description, and Conservation p. 1909-1919
- Full Text: false
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- Description: The Coorong is a long, narrow back-barrier lagoon near the mouth of the River Murray, Australia. It was accorded the status of a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1985 when it was described as a shallow, brackish-to-hypersaline lagoon. Historically the lagoon has played an important role as habitat for waterbird and fish populations, in particular migratory wading bird species covered under international agreements, underpinned by extensive seagrass beds. Evidence of long term change reveals the Coorong to have been a highly tidal system for several thousand years but was substantially affected by water diversions in the catchment and the construction of end-ofsystem barrages in 1940. These changes have seen declines in seagrass cover and associated birds and fish, exacerbated by an extended dry period in recent years with the Coorong experiencing extreme hypersalinity and consequent change in its perceived natural ecological character. The extended record of change reveals the Coorong to be outside its historical range of variability and the challenge to restore its condition is considerable. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V., part of Springer Nature 2018. All rights reserved.
Introduction to the application of paleoecological techniques in estuaries
- Authors: Taffs, Kathryn , Saunders, Krystyna , Weckstrom, Kaarina , Gell, Peter , Skilbeck, Gregory
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Applications of paleoenvironmental techniques in estuarine studies (Developments in Paleoenvironmental Research series) Chapter 1 p. 1-6
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Worldwide, estuarine research involving a long-term perspective to aid conservation and management has lagged behind terrestrial and lake environment research. Consequently, despite the obvious importance of estuaries, this means we have limited detailed knowledge of how they function or the ranges of natural variability they experience and how humans have, and will interact with these influences. Gaining a clear understanding using a long-term perspective is crucial if we are to maintain and restore the integrity of estuarine environments. While paleoecological studies in the ocean and lakes are well-established science, applications of paleoecological techniques in estuarine environments remains largely novel and in some cases problematic. In recent years estuarine paleoecological research has rapidly developed and an increasing range of technological applications is improving our understanding of the dynamic and variable nature of estuaries. The purpose of this book is to briefly describe estuarine form and function and to demonstrate the application of different paleoecological approaches used in estuaries that develop our understanding of their response to natural and human influences. Chapters 1–4 provide the framework for this book. They describe the characteristics of estuaries, important factors influencing them and introduce paleoecology as a useful tool for estuarine management. The following chapters (5–7) outline the essential steps required for undertaking a paleoecological study, in particular with regard to site selection, core extraction and chronological techniques, followed by the range of indicators that can be used. They are divided into geochemical proxies and pollutants (8–10) and biological proxies (11–18). The book concludes with a series of case studies (19–24): the first study focuses on sea level changes, while the rest present research from major estuaries (sensu lato) worldwide, to demonstrate how paleoecological studies can be used to address key questions, and to sustainably manage these important coastal environments in the future.
Paleolimnological history of the Coorong : Identifying the natural ecological character of a Ramsar Wetland in crisis
- Authors: Gell, Peter
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Applications of paleoenvironmental techniques in estuarine studies (Developments in Paleoenvironmental Research series) Chapter 23 p. 587-613
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The Coorong is a back-barrier lagoon that lies at the mouth of the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia. As part of a wider estuarine complex it was successfully nominated as a wetland of international significance under the Ramsar Convention where it was identified as a saline to hypersaline lagoon. Perceived obligations to retain this condition lead to limits on the release of freshwater from the hinterland to the lagoon. The Coorong has been identified as at risk of degradation with declining cover of its primary autotroph Ruppia spp. attributed to increasing salinity. Declining flows through the Murray-Darling Basin and recent drought induced extreme hypersalinity, particularly in the south lagoon. Increases in brine shrimp, declines in its fishery and replacement of a diverse avifauna with Banded Stilt led to calls that the Coorong was in crisis. Diatom-based palaeoecological assessment along the length of the lagoon revealed a natural subsaline, tidal system that shifted, after the commissioning of barrages, to a saline, closed lagoon with extensive sulphidic sediments. The misidentification of the natural character of the lagoon accentuated its degradation. Earlier sediment-based research may have provided for the identification of a more appropriate natural ecological character and an early warning of the degree to which the system had degraded. Palaeolimnological approaches represent a valuable tool to better evaluate the condition of wetlands listed under the Ramsar Convention.
A history of Australia's riverine habitats and vegetation
- Authors: Bickford, Sophie , Reid, Michael , Gell, Peter , Kenyon, Christine
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Vegetation of Australian riverine landscapes : biology, ecology and management Chapter 4 p. 45-58
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Vegetation communities in Australia's riverine landscapes are ecologically, economically and culturally significant. They are also among the most threatened ecosystems on the continent and have been dramatically altered as a result of human activities and climate change. Vegetation of Australian Riverine Landscapes brings together, for the first time, the results of the substantial amount of research that has been conducted over the last few decades into the biology, ecology and management of these important plant communities in Australia.
Management strategies for large river floodplan lakes undergoing rapid environmental changes
- Authors: Kattel, Giri , Gell, Peter
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: International Perspectives on Global Environmental change p. 329-353
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Environmental science and experiental learning
- Authors: Gell, Peter , Brandenburg, Robyn
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Pedagogies for the future p. 49-59
- Full Text: false
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Human impacts on Lacustrine ecosystems
- Authors: Battarbee, Richard , Bennion, Helen , Gell, Peter , Rose, Neil
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: The SAGE Handbook of Environmental change p. 47-70
- Full Text: false
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Palaeoecology as a means of auditing wetland condition
- Authors: Gell, Peter
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Terra australis 34 p. 445-458
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- Description: One could line up a suite of palaeoecological research papers published about Australian sites and, while they would not extend from Lake Wangoom to Lynch’s Crater, they would fill much of the pollen microscope laboratory at Monash University. In one way, that, in fact, would be the best place to start to assemble the bibliography, as many of the papers have emanated from Peter Kershaw and the long list of honours and postgraduate students he has supervised, his post-doctoral fellows and the palaeoecological diaspora that is the legacy of this legend from Littleborough.
- Description: 2003009401
Climate change and water management
- Authors: Kelly, Tim , Gehling, Jim , Westell, Kelly , Ingleton, Greg , Gell, Peter
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Adelaide: Water of a city p. 267-287
- Full Text: false
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- Description: To understand the risks of climate change and variability on Adelaide's water supply system, it is useful to consider the changes that have occured throughout the earth's history, and changes due to natural climate variability that occur across decades and centuries. In this we first take a look at climate change in earth's history that has helped shape the natural systems of the Murray-Darling (MDB) and the Mount Lofty Ranges (MLR), which provides Adelaide with its drinking water. We consider the forces that drive natural climate variability. In the second part, we introduce the new climate change force of increasing greenhouse gases, caused by human civilisations. The chapter explores future global scenarios of human behaviour and examines SA Water's role in managing its greenhouse gas emissions as it adapts to climate change, seeks to reduce its emissions, and supports necessary research. "From introduction"
Influence of River Murray water on River Torrens' water quality
- Authors: Tibby, John , Cox, Asta , Gell, Peter
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Adelaide: Water of a city p.
- Full Text: false
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- Description: "Transfers of River Murray water to the River Torrens commenced in 1955. This box focuses on the water quality impacts of this transfer on River Torrens storages."
With the benefit of hindsight : The utility of palaeoecology in wetland condition assessment and identification of restoration targets
- Authors: Gell, Peter
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Ecology of industrial pollution Chapter 8 p. 162-188
- Full Text: false
Using paleoenvironmental histories to trace the links between river, sea and estuary: changes in connection and condition
- Authors: Gell, Peter
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Marine Ecology Chapter p. 1
- Full Text: