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Mitigating ventilation air methane cost-effectively from a colliery in Australia

- Holmes, Robert

  • Authors: Holmes, Robert
  • Date: 2016
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Applied Engineering Sciences Vol. 6, no. 19 (2016), p. 41-50
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  • Description: Methane has been controlled in collieries in the past only for safety and statutory compliance reasons; however concerns over greenhouse gas emissions mean that this is now changing. About 65% of greenhouse emissions associated with underground coal mining come from ventilation air methane (VAM). The machinery to mitigate these fugitive emissions once the VAM exits the mine fans is expensive, has safety concerns and is not widely used at present. Consider these factors; more collieries are mining lower seams, methane content increases with depth, VAM mitigation plants are not widely used, most mine emissions are VAM, and widespread concern over greenhouse gases mean that it is desirable to lower VAM emissions now. One solution would be a method to prevent more methane from entering the mine airstream and becoming VAM in the first place. Recently, in a colliery in the Hunter Valley, this mitigation method underwent a 12-month trial, and involved six different measures. Measurements were taken to assess the emissions mitigation which was achieved, and the cost of the works; all the results are detailed herein. A reduction in fugitive emissions of 80,307 t/CO2-e below that which was projected for the next 12-month period was quantified, at an average cost of A$1.28c t/CO2-e. The mitigation measure outlined here represent a first attempt to the author’s knowledge, in an operating mine, to lower a collieries’ environmental footprint by preventing methane from entering the mine airstream and becoming VAM gas by the deliberate use of mitigation measures.

Factors affecting the global distribution of Hydrilla verticillata (L. fil.) Royle : a review

- Patrick, Anton, Florentine, Singarayer

  • Authors: Patrick, Anton , Florentine, Singarayer
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article , Review
  • Relation: Weed Research Vol. 61, no. 4 (2021), p. 253-271
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  • Description: Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae) is a submerged freshwater flowering plant within the monotypic genus. Over the geological periods, fossils of this family and genus have shown distinct diversifications between warm and cool fluctuations with more adaptations occurring in warmer periods and suppressions during severely cold paleoclimate changes. Recently, H. verticillata has shown a wide range of adaptive plasticity, allowing successful proliferation into non-native regions, whilst also undergoing unexplained disappearance from its native localities, and this phenomenon has stimulated this inquiry. Against this somewhat complex background, particular interest for this investigation has been focussed on an understanding of which aspects of climate change have contributed towards global adaptations and distribution patterns of H. verticillata. Whilst it is recognised that some of these changes are natural, other aggravating impacts are due to anthropogenic influences. Identifying the appropriate combinations of these climatic factors (temperature, rainfall, photoperiod), in concert with environmental (water level, CO2, salinity, eutrophication), geographical (altitude, latitude) and other factors (UV-B) are necessary precursors for instituting appropriate management strategies. In this respect, control measures are needed in non-native regions and restoration of this plant in native habitats are essential for its ecologically balanced global distribution. © 2021 European Weed Research Society

Climate change and water management

- Kelly, Tim, Gehling, Jim, Westell, Kelly, Ingleton, Greg, Gell, Peter

  • 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
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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"

Latrobe Valley circular industrial ecosystem

- Ghayur, Adeel

  • Authors: Ghayur, Adeel
  • Date: 2019
  • Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
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  • Description: Climate change, energy security, pollution and increasing unemployment in the face of automation are four critical challenges facing every region in the twenty-first century, including the Latrobe Valley in Victoria, Australia. The Valley – location of the largest brown coal deposits and forest industry in the southern hemisphere – is undergoing unprecedented and rapid changes. Its ageing brown coal power plants are retiring and replacements are not planned, leading to job insecurity. Solutions are needed that ensure continued economic activity in the region whilst allowing for the Valley to contribute its fair share in the fight against the climate change. The aim of this study is to investigate a possible local solution that could help tackle these issues of the Latrobe Valley in addition to plastic pollution and energy insecurity. Transitioning from linear to circular materials flow is one possible solution that favours sustainability and job security. Consequently, a multiproduct succinic acid biorefinery is modelled, acting as an industrial hub in a potential Latrobe Valley circular economy. This allows for employment creation in the value-addition of its platform chemicals into carbon negative and environment-friendly products. Additionally, such a biorefinery concept has the capacity to tackle Post-combustion CO2 Capture (PCC) industry’s wastes. It is anticipated that any future utilisation of brown coal as an energy vector would entail PCC to ensure carbon neutrality. A PCC industry produces CO2 and amine wastes that require adequate disposal. The modelled biorefinery has the capacity to valorise both. The simulation and the techno-economic analysis show the modelled Carbon Negative Biorefinery consumes 656,000 metric tonnes (t) of pulp logs and 42,000 t of CO2 to produce 220,000 t of succinic acid, 115,000 t of acetic acid and 900 t of dimethyl ether, annually. Biorefinery’s CAPEX and OPEX stand at AU$ 635,000,000 and $ 180,000,000 respectively. The calculated Minimum Selling Price for succinic acid is $ 990/t, only 6.4% higher than a typical biorefinery. Subsequently, biorefinery’s capacity as an anchor tenant is also simulated via technical evaluations of four value-added products: • Poly(butylene succinate) as biodegradable polymer replacing petro-plastics – simulation results show 1 t of succinic acid produces 0.19 t of tetrahydrofuran and 0.44 t of poly(butylene succinate); • Carbon fibre for insulation products, sporting goods and foams – 1 t of lignin and 0.8 t of acetic anhydride produce 0.8 t of carbon fibre; • Succinylated lignin adhesive for replacing urea-formaldehyde in the wood industry – simulation results show the biorefinery concept having the capacity to valorise both waste amine and CO2 from a PCC plant; and • Renewable fuels like hydrogen as energy vectors – a small biorefinery can potentially provide dozens of gigawatt hours of stored power for backup and peak demands, annually. In summary, results of this research are: • A biorefinery can valorise PCC plant wastes; • Multiproduct succinic acid biorefinery is economically viable; • Renewable fuels are ideally suited as energy storage vectors for a renewable energy grid both in developing and developed countries; • Bioproducts can reduce CO2 emissions thereby mitigate climate change; • Bioproducts can replace petro-products and reduce pollution; • Bioproducts can replace construction industry materials associated with CO2 emissions; • Biorefineries can help a region transition from a linear to a circular economy; and • Circular economies have the potential to generate secure jobs. In conclusion, this research identifies platform biochemicals as potential key drivers in a linear economy’s transition to a circular economy.
  • Description: Doctor of Philosophy

Animal Extinctions

- Toukhsati, Samia

  • Authors: Toukhsati, Samia
  • Date: 2017
  • Type: Text , Book chapter
  • Relation: Animals and Human Society Chapter 21 p. 499-518
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  • Description: Extinctions refer to the death of a single or multiple species (or taxon) and are common in the history of life on this planet. Using the fossil record, it has been estimated that 99.9% of the species that existed on earth is now extinct. Extinctions occur when a species fails to meet or adapt to changing environmental forces (such as global warming or cooling, habitat loss, destruction, or fragmentation) or when species origination is low, creating ecological niches for new, better adapted, species. This process of “background” extinction and new species evolution is natural, occurs continuously, and describes the way life diversified and radiated on this planet. However, when extinctions involve vast numbers of species and appear to occur around the same time in many different regions, as may be the case in modern times, they are termed “mass extinctions”; these are much less common, but greatly reduce species diversity. There is much debate and little consensus as to the cause and timescale of mass extinctions, generally referred to as the “Big Five” extinction events, which mark the point of transition to new geological epochs. This chapter will focus on the modern-day Holocene–Anthropocene extinction, which attributes the possible loss of up to 58,000 species per year to human activities.

Tourism and water use : Supply, demand, and security. An international review

- Gossling, Stephan, Peeters, Paul, Hall, C. Michael, Ceron, Jean-Paul, Dubois, Ghislain, Lehmann, La Vergne, Scott, Daniel

  • Authors: Gossling, Stephan , Peeters, Paul , Hall, C. Michael , Ceron, Jean-Paul , Dubois, Ghislain , Lehmann, La Vergne , Scott, Daniel
  • Date: 2012
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Tourism Management Vol. 33, no. 1 (2012), p. 1-15
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  • Description: This article reviews direct freshwater consumption in tourism from both quantitative and qualitative viewpoints to assess the current water demand of the tourism sector and to identify current and future management challenges. The article concludes that even though tourism increases global water consumption, direct tourism-related water use is considerably less than 1% of global consumption, and will not become significant even if the sector continues to grow at anticipated rates of around 4% per year (international tourist arrivals). The situation differs at the regional level because tourism concentrates traveller flows in time and space, and often-in dry destinations where water resources are limited. Furthermore, the understanding of tourism's indirect water requirements, including the production of food, building materials and energy, remains inadequately understood, but is likely to be more substantial than direct water use. The article concludes that with expected changes in global precipitation patterns due to climate change, it is advisable in particular for already water scarce destinations to engage in proactive water management. Recommendations for managing tourism's water footprint are made. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

A review of south pacific tropical cyclones : impacts of natural climate variability and climate change

- Chand, Savin, Dowdy, Andrew, Bell, Samuel, Tory, Kevin

  • Authors: Chand, Savin , Dowdy, Andrew , Bell, Samuel , Tory, Kevin
  • Date: 2020
  • Type: Text , Book chapter
  • Relation: Springer Climate p. 251-273
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  • Description: Impacts of tropical cyclones in the South Pacific Island countries are of great significance. Now with the growing threats from human-induced climate change, the need for effective disaster risk management and adaptation strategies for these island countries is more important than before. In order to implement appropriate strategies, a comprehensive understanding of South Pacific tropical cyclone activity—and how it is likely to change as a result of human-induced climate change—is essential. While a number of past studies have examined various aspects of tropical cyclone activity in the South Pacific basin, a review that consolidates those studies with new information is essential. In this chapter, we first examine tropical cyclone data quality for the South Pacific basin and then review the robustness of the relationship between South Pacific tropical cyclones and drivers of natural climate variability. Note that an understanding of the limitations of the data quality is important to determine the extent of natural climate variability and signatures—if any—of human-induced climate change on tropical cyclones. We then examine the influence of climate change on tropical cyclones using up-to-date historical observations and climate model projections. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.

Emerging challenges and opportunities for education and research in weed science

- Chauhan, Bhagirath, Matloob, Amar, Mahajan, Gulshan, Aslam, Farhena, Florentine, Singarayer, Jha, Prashant

  • Authors: Chauhan, Bhagirath , Matloob, Amar , Mahajan, Gulshan , Aslam, Farhena , Florentine, Singarayer , Jha, Prashant
  • Date: 2017
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Frontiers in Plant Science Vol. 8, no. (2017), p. 1-13
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  • Description: In modern agriculture, with more emphasis on high input systems, weed problems are likely to increase and become more complex. With heightened awareness of adverse effects of herbicide residues on human health and environment and the evolution of herbicide-resistant weed biotypes, a significant focus within weed science has now shifted to the development of eco-friendly technologies with reduced reliance on herbicides. Further, with the large-scale adoption of herbicide-resistant crops, and uncertain climatic optima under climate change, the problems for weed science have become multi-faceted. To handle these complex weed problems, a holistic line of action with multi-disciplinary approaches is required, including adjustments to technology, management practices, and legislation. Improved knowledge of weed ecology, biology, genetics, and molecular biology is essential for developing sustainable weed control practices. Additionally, judicious use of advanced technologies, such as site-specific weed management systems and decision support modeling, will play a significant role in reducing costs associated with weed control. Further, effective linkages between farmers and weed researchers will be necessary to facilitate the adoption of technological developments. To meet these challenges, priorities in research need to be determined and the education system for weed science needs to be reoriented. In respect of the latter imperative, closer collaboration between weed scientists and other disciplines can help in defining and solving the complex weed management challenges of the 21st century. This consensus will provide more versatile and diverse approaches to innovative teaching and training practices, which will be needed to prepare future weed science graduates who are capable of handling the anticipated challenges of weed science facing in contemporary agriculture. To build this capacity, mobilizing additional funding for both weed research and weed management education is essential. © 2017 Chauhan, Matloob, Mahajan, Aslam, Florentine and Jha.

Innovation policy and social learning : An economic framework for sustainable development in regional Australia

- Courvisanos, Jerry

A New assessment framework for transience in hydrogeological systems

- Currell, Matthew, Gleeson, Tom, Dahlhaus, Peter

  • Authors: Currell, Matthew , Gleeson, Tom , Dahlhaus, Peter
  • Date: 2016
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Groundwater Vol. 54, no. 1 (2016), p. 4-14
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  • Description: The importance of transience in the management of hydrogeologic systems is often uncertain. We propose a clear framework for determining the likely importance of transient behavior in groundwater systems in a management context. The framework incorporates information about aquifer hydraulics, hydrological drivers, and time scale of management. It is widely recognized that aquifers respond on different timescales to hydrological change and that hydrological drivers themselves, such as climate, are not stationary in time. We propose that in order to assess whether transient behavior is likely to be of practical importance, three factors need to be examined simultaneously: (1) aquifer response time, which can be expressed in terms of the response to a step hydrological change (τstep) or periodic change (τcycle); (2) temporal variation of the dominant hydrological drivers, such as dominant climatic systems in a region; (3) the management timescale and spatial scale of interest. Graphical tools have been developed to examine these factors in conjunction, and assess how important transient behavior is likely to be in response to particular hydrological drivers, and thus which drivers are most likely to induce transience in a specified management timeframe. The method is demonstrated using two case studies; a local system that responds rapidly and is managed on yearly to decadal timeframes and a regional system that exhibits highly delayed responses and was until recently being assessed as a high level nuclear waste repository site. Any practical groundwater resource problem can easily be examined using the proposed framework.
  • Description: The importance of transience in the management of hydrogeologic systems is often uncertain. We propose a clear framework for determining the likely importance of transient behavior in groundwater systems in a management context. The framework incorporates information about aquifer hydraulics, hydrological drivers, and time scale of management. It is widely recognized that aquifers respond on different timescales to hydrological change and that hydrological drivers themselves, such as climate, are not stationary in time. We propose that in order to assess whether transient behavior is likely to be of practical importance, three factors need to be examined simultaneously: (1) aquifer response time, which can be expressed in terms of the response to a step hydrological change (

A century-scale, human-induced ecohydrological evolution of wetlands of two large river basins in Australia (Murray) and China (Yangtze)

- Kattel, Giri, Dong, Xuhui, Yang, Xiangdong

  • Authors: Kattel, Giri , Dong, Xuhui , Yang, Xiangdong
  • Date: 2016
  • Type: Text , Journal article , Review
  • Relation: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Vol. 20, no. 6 (2016), p. 2151-2168
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  • Description: Recently, the provision of food and water resources of two of the world's largest river basins, the Murray and the Yangtze, has been significantly altered through widespread landscape modification. Long-term sedimentary archives, dating back for some centuries from wetlands of these river basins, reveal that rapid, basin-wide development has reduced the resilience of biological communities, resulting in considerable decline in ecosystem services, including water quality. Large-scale human disturbance to river systems, due to river regulation during the mid-20th century, has transformed the hydrology of rivers and wetlands, causing widespread modification of aquatic biological communities. Changes to cladoceran zooplankton (water fleas) were used to assess the historical hydrology and ecology of three Murray and Yangtze river wetlands over the past century. Subfossil assemblages of cladocerans retrieved from sediment cores (94, 45, and 65 cm) of three wetlands: Kings Billabong (Murray), Zhangdu, and Liangzi lakes (Yangtze), showed strong responses to hydrological changes in the river after the mid-20th century. In particular, river regulation caused by construction of dams and weirs together with river channel modifications, has led to significant hydrological alterations. These hydrological disturbances were either (1) a prolonged inundation of wetlands or (2) reduced river flow, both of which caused variability in wetland depth. Inevitably, these phenomena have subsequently transformed the natural wetland habitats, leading to a switch in cladoceran assemblages to species preferring poor water quality, and in some cases to eutrophication. The quantitative and qualitative decline of wetland water conditions is indicative of reduced ecosystem services, and requires effective restoration measures for both river basins which have been impacted by recent socioeconomic development and climate change. © 2016 Author(s).

Seed germination ecology of Bidens pilosa and its implications for weed management

- Chauhan, Bhagirath, Ali, Hafiz, Florentine, Singarayer

  • Authors: Chauhan, Bhagirath , Ali, Hafiz , Florentine, Singarayer
  • Date: 2019
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Scientific Reports Vol. 9, no. 1 (2019), p.
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  • Description: It is now widely recognized that Bidens pilosa has become a problematic broadleaf weed in many ecosystems across the world and, particularly in the light of recent climate change conditions, closer management strategies are required to curtail its impact on agricultural cropping. In this investigation, experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of environmental factors on the germination and emergence of B. pilosa, and also on the response of this weed to commonly available post-emergence herbicides in Australia. The environmental factors of particular interest to this current work were the effect of light and temperature, salinity, burial depth and moisture on B. pilosa since these are key management issues in Australian agriculture. In addition, the effects of a number of commonly used herbicides were examined, because of concerns regarding emerging herbicide resistance. In the tested light/dark regimes, germination was found to be higher at fluctuating day/night temperatures of 25/15 °C and 30/20 °C (92–93%) than at 35/25 °C (79%), whilst across the different temperature ranges, germination was higher in the light/dark regime (79–93%) than in complete darkness (22–38%). The standard five-minute temperature pretreatment required for 50% inhibition of maximum germination was found to be 160 °C, and it was further shown that no seeds germinated at temperatures higher than 240 °C. With regard to salinity, some B. pilosa seeds germinated (3%) in 200 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) but all failed to germinate at 250 mM NaCl. Germination declined from 89% to 2% as the external osmotic potential decreased from 0 to −0.6 MPa, and germination ceased at −0.8 MPa. Seeding emergence of B. pilosa was maximum (71%) for seeds placed on the soil surface and it was found that no seedlings emerged from a depth of 8 cm or greater. A depth of 3.75 cm was required to inhibit the seeds to 50% of the maximum emergence. In this study, application of glufosinate, glyphosate and paraquat provided commercially acceptable control levels (generally accepted as >90%) when applied at the four-leaf stage of B. pilosa. However, none of the herbicide treatments involved in this study provided this level of control when applied at the six-leaf stage. In summary, B. pilosa germination has been clearly shown to be stimulated by light and thus its emergence was greatest from the soil surface. This suggests that infestation from this weed will remain as a problem in no-till conservation agriculture systems, the use of which is increasing now throughout the world. It is intended that information generated from this study be used to develop more effective integrated management programs for B. pilosa and similar weeds in commercial agricultural environments which are tending toward conservation approaches. © 2019, The Author(s).

Development of pedotransfer functions by machine learning for prediction of soil electrical conductivity and organic carbon content

- Benke, Kurt, Norng, Sorn, Robinson, Nathan, Chia, K., Rees, David, Hopley, J.

  • Authors: Benke, Kurt , Norng, Sorn , Robinson, Nathan , Chia, K. , Rees, David , Hopley, J.
  • Date: 2020
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Geoderma Vol. 366, no. (2020), p.
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  • Description: The pedotransfer function is a mathematical model used to convert direct soil measurements into known and unknown soil properties. It provides information for modelling and simulation in soil research, hydrology, environmental science and climate change impacts, including investigating the carbon cycle and the exchange of carbon between soils and the atmosphere to support carbon farming. In particular, the pedotransfer function can provide input parameters for landscape design, soil quality assessment and economic optimisation. The objective of the study was to investigate the feasibility of using a generalised pedotransfer function derived with a machine learning method to predict soil electrical conductivity (EC) and soil organic carbon content (OC) for different regional locations in the state of Victoria, Australia. This strategy supports a unified approach to the interpolation and population of a single regional soils database, in contrast to a range of pedotransfer functions derived from local databases with measurement sets that may have limited transferability. The pedotransfer function generation was based on a machine learning algorithm incorporating the Generalized Linear Mixed Model with interactions and nested terms, with Residual Maximum Likelihood estimation, and a predictor-frequency ranking system with step-wise reduction of predictors to evaluate the predictive errors in reduced models. The source of the data was the Victorian Soil Information System (VSIS), which is a database administered for soil information and mapping purposes. The database contains soil measurements and information from locations across Victoria and is a repository of historical data, including monitoring studies. In total, data from 93 projects were available for inputs to modelling and analysis, with 5158 samples used to derive predictors for EC and 1954 samples used to derive predictors for OC. Over 500 models were tested by systematically reducing the number of predictors from the full model. Five-fold cross-validation was used for estimation of model mean-squared prediction error (MSPE) and mean-absolute percentage error (MAPE). The results were statistically significant with only a gradual reduction in error for the top-ranked 50 models. The prediction errors (MSPE and MAPE) of the top ranked model for EC are 0.686 and 0.635, and 0.413 and 0.474 for OC respectively. The four most frequently occurring predictors both for EC and OC prediction across the full set of models were found to be soil depth, pH, particle size distribution and geomorphological mapping unit. The possible advantages and disadvantages of this approach were discussed with respect to other machine learning approaches. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.

A parametric study of a longwall district climatic prediction and planning model

- Lowndes, I. S., Yang, Z. Y., Kingman, S. W., Silvester, S. A., Tuck, Michael

  • Authors: Lowndes, I. S. , Yang, Z. Y. , Kingman, S. W. , Silvester, S. A. , Tuck, Michael
  • Date: 2006
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Transactions of the Institutions of Mining and Metallurgy, Section A: Mining Technology Vol. 115, no. 3 (2006), p. 99-111
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  • Description: The present paper reports the results of a series of parametric and correlation studies that have been conducted on a longwall coal district climatic prediction planning model developed at the University of Nottingham. The results of these simulation exercises have been correlated against continuously recorded climatic survey data collected from longwall coal districts at two representative deep UK coal mines. The survey data used was continuously measured to record the climate across the longwall districts during both weekday production periods and weekend non-production periods. An analysis of the measured data was able to establish average dry and wet bulb temperatures, which characterised the climate within the workings during weekday production and weekend non-production periods. To determine the major contribution that the geothermal properties of the surrounding rock mass have on the heat transfer to the ventilating air stream, a series of climatic simulation and correlation exercises were conducted to establish a base line data set for these parameters during non-production periods. A second series of parametric and correlation exercises were conducted on the longwall climatic simulation model to identify the range of values to be taken by the parameters governing the contribution of heat transfer from the installed electrical machinery and cut mineral during the weekday production periods. It is concluded that these exercises were able to identify a base set of values for the model input parameters that enabled the longwall climatic models to satisfactorily replicate the climatic conditions experienced across two representative UK deep mine longwall districts during production and non-production periods. © 2006 Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.
  • Description: C1
  • Description: 2003001640

Environment, innovation and sustainable development: Introduction to an interdisciplinary approach

- Courvisanos, Jerry

  • Authors: Courvisanos, Jerry
  • Date: 2011
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Innovation Economics Vol. 2, no. 8 (2011), p. 3-10
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  • Description: The disappointing outcome from the United Nations Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change in December 2009 affected many social researchers who had hoped that the world leaders would shine a guiding light towards a sustainable development paradigm shift in society. A guiding light that would provide a clear pathway for all the world’s citizens to an environmentally safe and equitable “Spaceship Earth” (Boulding, 1966). Much discussion arose after this failed summit about the need for ‘bottom-up’ adaptation and resilience as the alternative. Valuable as such an approach is to address the environmental concerns, its incremental change and modest institutional reforms limit the extent of sustainable development. Paradigm shift requires creative destruction of the type Joseph Schumpeter advocated when in times of crisis. Innovation lies at the heart of such a radical approach. Based on the need to raise the profile of this innovation approach to sustainable development, the Research Network on Innovation – the sponsor of this journal – decided to organise the next biennial Spirit of Innovation conference around the theme ‘Environment, Innovation and Sustainable Development’. Thus was that on the 7th and 8th October 2010, the “Spirit of Innovation IV” Forum was held at the Euromed Management School in Marseille.
  • Description: 2003009224

Ten complementary measures to assist with environmental watering programs in the Murray-Darling river system, Australia

- Baumgartner, Lee, Gell, Peter, Thiem, Jason, Finlayson, Colin, Ning, Nathan

  • Authors: Baumgartner, Lee , Gell, Peter , Thiem, Jason , Finlayson, Colin , Ning, Nathan
  • Date: 2020
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: River Research and Applications Vol. 36, no. 4 (May 2020), p. 645-655
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  • Description: Restoration programmes for degraded aquatic ecosystems frequently focus on flow restoration or reinstatement, including recovery targets for volumes of water to be used for environmental benefit. Australia's Murray-Darling Basin is an example of a major system undergoing substantial water reform to balance the needs of competing users, including the environment, within the constraints of an arid climate. This reform revolves around accounting for finite volumes of water that have been shared amongst water users. We argue that while recovering water will provide good outcomes, as a sole intervention, it is not enough to deliver the desired environmental benefits of the reform given the significantly altered state of the catchment. Here, we present 10 measures that could be used to complement planned water recovery actions. These "complementary measures" integrate recovery actions, which when strategically combined with water delivery would significantly enhance water reform efforts to generate environmental outcomes in a highly modified system.

Implications of environmental trajectories for limits of acceptable change : A case study of the Riverland Ramsar site, South Australia

- Newall, Peter, Lloyd, Lance, Gell, Peter, Walker, Keith

  • Authors: Newall, Peter , Lloyd, Lance , Gell, Peter , Walker, Keith
  • Date: 2016
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Marine and Freshwater Research Vol. 67, no. 6 (2016), p. 738-747
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  • Description: The Riverland Ramsar site in south-eastern Australia has Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) derived on the basis of hydrological regimes and vegetation requirements. This study evaluated LAC for the site against trajectories of environmental change including increasing river regulation and changing climate. The study identified a high likelihood of exceedances of the LAC from changed hydrologic regime and also from changing climate, with the combined influences increasing the likelihood of breaches. Regional climatic variations in the past call into question the concept of baseline conditions for this site and elsewhere, and suggest that management plans based on ecological variation around a point in time will be insufficient. Vulnerability assessment, adaptation enhancement, and regular reviews of site condition and regional significance are suggested components for future management of Ramsar sites. Journal compilation © CSIRO 2016.

Marine ecosystem assessment for the Southern Ocean : Birds and marine mammals in a changing climate

- Bestley, Sophie, Ropert-Coudert, Yan, Bengtson Nash, Susan, Brooks, Cassandra, Cotté, Cedric, Dewar, Meagan, Friedlaender, Ari, Jackson, Jennifer, Labrousse, Sara, Lowther, Andrew, McMahon, Clive, Phillips, Richard, Pistorius, Pierre, Puskic, Peter, Reis, Ana, Reisinger, Ryan, Santos, Mercedes, Tarszisz, Esther, Tixier, Paul, Trathan, Philip, Wege, Mia, Wienecke, Barbara

  • Authors: Bestley, Sophie , Ropert-Coudert, Yan , Bengtson Nash, Susan , Brooks, Cassandra , Cotté, Cedric , Dewar, Meagan , Friedlaender, Ari , Jackson, Jennifer , Labrousse, Sara , Lowther, Andrew , McMahon, Clive , Phillips, Richard , Pistorius, Pierre , Puskic, Peter , Reis, Ana , Reisinger, Ryan , Santos, Mercedes , Tarszisz, Esther , Tixier, Paul , Trathan, Philip , Wege, Mia , Wienecke, Barbara
  • Date: 2020
  • Type: Text , Journal article , Review
  • Relation: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Vol. 8, no. (2020), p. 1-39
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  • Description: The massive number of seabirds (penguins and procellariiformes) and marine mammals (cetaceans and pinnipeds) – referred to here as top predators – is one of the most iconic components of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean. They play an important role as highly mobile consumers, structuring and connecting pelagic marine food webs and are widely studied relative to other taxa. Many birds and mammals establish dense breeding colonies or use haul-out sites, making them relatively easy to study. Cetaceans, however, spend their lives at sea and thus aspects of their life cycle are more complicated to monitor and study. Nevertheless, they all feed at sea and their reproductive success depends on the food availability in the marine environment, hence they are considered useful indicators of the state of the marine resources. In general, top predators have large body sizes that allow for instrumentation with miniature data-recording or transmitting devices to monitor their activities at sea. Development of scientific techniques to study reproduction and foraging of top predators has led to substantial scientific literature on their population trends, key biological parameters, migratory patterns, foraging and feeding ecology, and linkages with atmospheric or oceanographic dynamics, for a number of species and regions. We briefly summarize the vast literature on Southern Ocean top predators, focusing on the most recent syntheses. We also provide an overview on the key current and emerging pressures faced by these animals as a result of both natural and human causes. We recognize the overarching impact that environmental changes driven by climate change have on the ecology of these species. We also evaluate direct and indirect interactions between marine predators and other factors such as disease, pollution, land disturbance and the increasing pressure from global fisheries in the Southern Ocean. Where possible we consider the data availability for assessing the status and trends for each of these components, their capacity for resilience or recovery, effectiveness of management responses, risk likelihood of key impacts and future outlook. © Copyright © 2020 Bestley, Ropert-Coudert, Bengtson Nash, Brooks, Cotté, Dewar, Friedlaender, Jackson, Labrousse, Lowther, McMahon, Phillips, Pistorius, Puskic, Reis, Reisinger, Santos, Tarszisz, Tixier, Trathan, Wege and Wienecke.

Managing freshwater protected areas in the global landscape

- Finlayson, C. Max, Davidson, Nick, Gell, Peter, Kumar, Ritesh, McInnes, Robert

Conservation, agriculture, sustainable, development and strong communities

- Martin, Jennifer

  • Authors: Martin, Jennifer
  • Date: 2020
  • Type: Text , Conference paper
  • Relation: Strategies for the promotion of conservation agriculture in Central Asia, Proceedings of the International Conference, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, 5–7 September 2018 p. 278-287
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  • Description: Four decades have passed since the introduction of Conservation Agriculture research and development. We also mark forty years since the introduction of the Declaration of Alma-Ata at the International Conference on Primary Health Care, Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, 6–12 September 1978. Furthermore, of significance to the future development of sustainable agriculture practices and healthy communities, is the introduction of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in January 2016. These follow on from the Millennium Development goals that will guide the United Nations Development Program policy and development unti l 2030. An Australian case study on Conservation Agriculture is presented examining the relationship between Conservation Agriculture, health and wellbeing and sustainable development. It is argued that an ecosystems approach is useful for strategic sustainable development to understand the connectedness and inter-relationship between climate change agricultural practices, sense of place, identity, health and wellbeing. Community development processes can assist to build strong communities through collaboration between farmers, farmer organizations, local experts, and national and regional public and private institutions.