University of Tasmania, Australia

Climate change and a range of coastal and marine development pressures mean that we need an adaptive approach to conserving marine biodiversity. Current arrangements have limited capacity to deal with expected shifts in the structure and composition of marine ecosystems and habitats. This project will identify adaptive governance and management arrangements for conserving marine biodiversity in the context of climate change. We will focus on three study areas: Whitsundays (Queensland), Tweed-Morton (NSW/Queensland), and East Coast Tasmania. The work will assist in securing the future of marine biota and associated dependent values, including tourism and fisheries.

The project will:

• identify governance and management requirements for conserving marine biodiversity in the context of climate change;

• assess how well current arrangements meet these requirements;

• identify alternative arrangements that would better conserve marine biodiversity; and
  
  provide advice to authorities on implementing reforms.

Note: The use of these photos in no way suggests their authors endorse this research in any way.

1. A set of governance and management requirements for conserving marine biodiversity in the face of major environmental change. These requirements are applicable to all marine situations, and provide a ‘benchmark’ against which current and potential future arrangements can be assessed.

2. Assessment of how well current arrangements in our three study areas meet the requirements, highlighting strengths and aspects that could be improved.

3. Identification of alternative arrangements that better meet the requirements, and therefore deliver more effective responses to climate change and development pressures.

4. Recommended reforms to current arrangements that will, through improved adaptive capacity, better conserve marine biodiversity.

Members (External)

Dr Michael Lockwood (Project Leader),  School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania Michael.Lockwood@utas.edu.au

Professor Marc Hockings,  School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland

Associate Professor Marcus Haward, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania Marcus.Haward@utas.edu.au

Dr Lorne Kriwoken, School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania

L.K.Kriwoken@utas.edu.au

Dr Julie Davidson, School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania

Julie.Davidson@utas.edu.au