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Back to future:
Can lessons from restoring the Willamette
  help to protect the rivers of northern
                Australia?




               Michael Douglas
           Director, TRaCK Research Hub
             Charles Darwin University
Outline
•   The region
•   The issues
•   TRaCK
•   The future
Australia’s wet-dry tropics




• 25% of Australia (463,000 square miles)
• 1.4% of Australia’s population (300,000 people)
• 30% of population are Indigenous people
Hot, wet season & hot, dry season
                                  110                                                           240

                                  100                                                           220

                                   90                                                           200
Temperature (F) or Humidity (%)




                                                                                                180
                                   80
                                                                                                160
                                   70




                                                                                                      Rainfall (inches)
                                                                                                140
                                   60
                                                               M ax. T em p.                    120
                                   50                          M in. T em p.                    100
                                   40                          9 am Hum idity
                                                               Rainfall (T otal 650 inch)       80
                                   30
                                                                                                60
                                   20                                                           40
                                   10                                                           20
                                    0                                                           0
                                        Jan Feb M ar Apr M ay Jun   Jul   Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
• 55 catchments
• 50% of Australia’s river flow
• <0.02% of water diverted
Outline
•   The region
•   The issues
•   TRaCK
•   The future
TRaCK - Research to support river and estuary management in
northern Australia
Heffernan touts the
  “Ord as the food
bowl for the region”
       2007


2008
Research to support
 sustainable management

• Increasing interest in developing
  northern Australia
• Need to avoid the mistakes made in
  the past
• Lack of basic knowledge of the full
  implications of future scenarios

   Fundamental need for research
   Historic opportunity
TRaCK’s Aim

To provide the science and knowledge that
governments, communities and industries
 need for the sustainable management of
 Australia’s tropical rivers and estuaries
TRaCK
• 80 Researchers
• 5 years
• 30 Projects

1. Why do people value tropical rivers?
2. How do they differ across the region?
3. How do tropical rivers work?
4. What are the opportunities for
   Indigenous people?
5. How can we make good decisions
   about managing tropical rivers?
Barramundi catch and annual flow




           3 year moving averages with
           4 year lag (R2=0.81)




               Robbins et al (2006) Marine and Freshwater Research
Correlations of flow with fisheries production in
          tropical Australian estuaries
                                                                   Barramundi & Banana prawns
                   N
     200       0       200     400 Kilometers




                                                                                           +ve
                                                                       Darwin
                                                                           +ve         Ú
                                                                                       Ê
                                                                                                                        +ve
                                                                                                            +ve
                                                                                                                        +ve                         Ú
                                                                                                                                                    Ê   Cairns
                                   Broome Ú
                                          Ê
                                                                                                                                                        Ú
                                                                                                                                                        Ê   Townsville


                                                                                                                                                                       Rockhampton
 N    N    N   N       N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N    N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   N   NÚ N
                                                                                                                                                                     Ê     N   N   N   N




                                                                   Ian Halliday et al 2010
Connected river systems
               support fisheries
      Where does the fish biomass come from?
Jardine et al 2011




  20%                                 45%
  River                              Estuary
                        35%
                     Floodplain
Western science and Indigenous knowledge
Relative risk score
                                    Bla




                                                           10
                                                                15
                                                                        20
                                                                                 25
                                                                                      30
                                 Bu ck b
                                     tle          r
                                          rs eam
                                              gru
                                      B
                              Or arra nter
                                   dR m
                                         ive und
                                              r            i
                                      Sle mul
                                 Gia ep                let
                                       nt y co
                                            gu          d




                Higher risk
                                        Bla dgeo
                        We                    ck         n
                             ste Bony mas
                                  rn                     t
                                       rai brea
                                 Ba         nb          m
                                      rre owfi
                       Ex                   d g sh
                           qu                    run
                               i            L          te
                         Ma ste ra ong r
                              cle          inb tom
                                   ay            ow
                                       '
                               Sp s gla fish
                                    an           s
                                         gle sfish
                                              dp
                             To                     erc
                                 oth                     h
                                      les Tarp
                                                       o
                                   B s ca n
                   Fly Snu lack tfish
                        -sp b-n ca
                             ec         os tfis
                                 k          d           h
                          No ed ha garfi
                               rth                     s
                                    we rdyh h
                                         st           ea
                               Mo                        d
                                     uth glasf
                                            alm ish
                 Bla                Go
                     ck-                 ld igh
                         ba       Hy en g ty




 Fish species
                              nd rtl's                ob
                                  ed           t         y
                             Mi         rai anda
                                 dg nbo n
                  Pu                 ley            w
                       rpl                 's g fish
                           e-s                   run
                               po Arch ter
                                    tte
                              B          d erfis
                        Fa erne gudg h
                            lse                       e
                                 -s y's c on
                  Ka Prm pined atfis
                      the        i                      h
                           rin tive a catfi
                               e R rc                  sh
                                     ive her
                                          r g fish
                                               u
                                                                                                  dry season water extraction




                                      Sw dge
                                             am on
                                      Blu p e
                       Sh Salm e ca el
                            ov                      t
                               el- on c fish
                                   no             atf
                              Em sed ish
                                   pi            ca
                                                                                           Relative risks of freshwater fish species to




                              Fre re gu tfish
                                    s            d
                             Re hwa geo
risk




                                  nd          ter n
                            De ahl'                  s
                                 lica s c ole
                                       te
Lower




                                                  atf
                                            blu ish
                                                  e
                                         Pe -eye
                                              nn
                                                   yfis
                                                        h
Aboriginal people rely on a wide range of
        river plants and animals




                            Jackson et al 2011
Relative risk score
                                         Bla




                                                                10
                                                                     15
                                                                             20
                                                                                      25
                                                                                           30
                                      Bu ck b
                                          tle          r
                                               rs eam
                                                   gru
                                           B
                                   Or arra nter
                                        dR m
                                              ive und
                                                   r            i
                                           Sle mul
                                      Gia ep                let
                                            nt y co
                                                 gu          d




Higher risk
                                             Bla dgeo
                             We                    ck         n
                                  ste Bony mas
                                       rn                     t
                                            rai brea
                                      Ba         nb          m
                                           rre owfi
                            Ex                   d g sh
                                qu                    run
                                    i            L          te
                              Ma ste ra ong r
                                   cle          inb tom
                                        ay            ow
                                            '
                                    Sp s gla fish
                                         an           s
                                              gle sfish
                                                   dp
                                  To                     erc
                                      oth                     h
                                           les Tarp
                                                            o
                                        B s ca n
                        Fly Snu lack tfish
                             -sp b-n ca
                                  ec         os tfis
                                      k          d           h
                               No ed ha garfi
                                    rth                     s
                                         we rdyh h
                                              st           ea
                                    Mo                        d
                                          uth glasf
                                                 alm ish
                      Bla                Go
                          ck-                 ld igh
                              ba       Hy en g ty




       Fish species
                                                                                                                       extraction – Daly River




                                   nd rtl's                ob
                                       ed           t         y
                                  Mi         rai anda
                                      dg nbo n
                       Pu                 ley            w
                            rpl                 's g fish
                                e-s                   run
                                    po Arch ter
                                         tte
                                   B          d erfis
                             Fa erne gudg h
                                 lse                       e
                                      -s y's c on
                       Ka Prm pined atfis
                           the        i                      h
                                rin tive a catfi
                                    e R rc                  sh
                                          ive her
                                               r g fish
                                                    u
                                           Sw dge
                                                  am on
                                           Blu p e
                            Sh Salm e ca el
                                 ov                      t
                                    el- on c fish
                                        no             atf
                                   Em sed ish
                                        pi            ca
                                   Fre re gu tfish
                                         s            d
                                  Re hwa geo
                                       nd          ter n
                                 De ahl'                  s
                                      lica s c ole
                                            te         atf
                                                 blu ish
                                                       e
                                              Pe -eye
                                                   nn
                                                        yfis
                                                             h
 Lower risk
                                                                                                From Chan et al 2011
                                                                                                                       Some are at high risk from dry season water
Future development scenarios (30 years)
        Management Strategy Evaluation, Daly River


   Indicator
 (c.f. to 2006)        5% Agriculture
  Indigenous                      6%
    income




               Stoeckl et al (in press) Biological Conservation
Future development scenarios (30 years)
        Management Strategy Evaluation, Daly River


   Indicator
 (c.f. to 2006)      5% Agriculture
   Indigenous                   6%
     income
 Non-Indigenous            12%
     income




             Stoeckl et al (in press) Biological Conservation
Future development scenarios (30 years)
        Management Strategy Evaluation, Daly River


   Indicator
 (c.f. to 2006)        5% Agriculture
   Indigenous                     6%
     income
 Non-Indigenous              12%
     income
   Discharge                 65%




               Stoeckl et al (in press) Biological Conservation
Future development scenarios (30 years)
          Management Strategy Evaluation, Daly River


    Indicator
  (c.f. to 2006)         5% Agriculture
    Indigenous                      6%
      income
  Non-Indigenous               12%
      income
     Discharge                 65%

    Optimal fish               89%
habitat/wild harvest



                 Stoeckl et al (in press) Biological Conservation
Future development scenarios (30 years)
          Management Strategy Evaluation, Daly River


    Indicator
  (c.f. to 2006)         5% Agriculture
    Indigenous                      6%
      income
  Non-Indigenous               12%
      income
     Discharge                 65%

    Optimal fish               89%
habitat/wild harvest



                 Stoeckl et al (in press) Biological Conservation
Future development scenarios (30 years)
          Management Strategy Evaluation, Daly River


    Indicator
  (c.f. to 2006)         5% Agriculture          5% Government
    Indigenous                      6%                 45%
      income
  Non-Indigenous               12%                     70%
      income
     Discharge                 65%                     25%

    Optimal fish               89%                     47%
habitat/wild harvest



                 Stoeckl et al (in press) Biological Conservation
Summary
• TRaCK’s research is leading to a
  more informed debate
  -   Society clearly values tropical rivers for many
      reasons

  -   Communities are looking for balance

  -   Clear trade-offs between different values


• State governments are using this
  research to make decisions about water
  allocation
Tony Abbott'sopposition party calls for a
   Federal plan for northern foodbowl
       network of new dams if elected
  by: Sid Maher
  From: The Australian
  September 17, 2011 12:00AM
Outline
•   The region
•   The issues
•   TRaCK
•   The future
Science process engaging
           stakeholders

               Science


Stakeholders

               process
Social processes may engage
              science
Planning, policy,
  management
                        Science


                    ?



                        process
 Stakeholders
Partnership approach to achieve
research outcomes & societal outcome
A new approach: Actionable research
     or Transdisciplinary research
  Stakeholders
                       Science




                           process




                                      Stakeholders
                 Science
                                            &
                                        Scientists
  Stakeholders
                                ach
                             tre
                           Ou




                 process




Research                                         Action
Engagement
Providing    Consulting    Joint    Joint  Supporting users
informatio   with users   decision action     initiatives
n                            s        s
                                  PARTNERSHIP
Engagement
Providing    Consulting       Joint    Joint  Supporting users
informatio   with users      decision action     initiatives
n                               s        s
                                     PARTNERSHIP



Personal traits
    Hubris, authority,            Humility, empathy, listening
 talking, credibility with         , credibility with peers &
          peers                               users
Engagement
Providing    Consulting    Joint    Joint  Supporting users
informatio   with users   decision action     initiatives
n                            s        s
                                  PARTNERSHIP



Personal traits
Hubris, authority, talkin      Humility, empathy, listening
g, credibility with peers       , credibility with peers &
                                           users

 Indicators of completion
   Publication                            Public action
Scale
Indiv., popl’n,                             Social ecological
community         Ecosystems   Watersheds
                                                systems
Scale
Indiv., popl’n,                                      Social ecological
community          Ecosystems    Watersheds
                                                         systems



Disciplinarity
  Single-             Multi-            Inter-            Trans-
                                                     Researchers, research
                                Ecologist,
  Ecologist       Ecologist,                         users, facilitators, Integrat
                                hydrologist,
                  hydrologist                        ors, communicators
                                planner, economist
Scale
Indiv., popl’n,                                               Social ecological
community          Ecosystems           Watersheds
                                                                  systems



Disciplinarity
  Single-             Multi-                    Inter-             Trans-
                                                              Researchers, research
                                       Ecologist, hydrolog
  Ecologist       Ecologist, hydrolo                          users, facilitators, Integrat
                                       ist, planner, econo
                  gist                                        ors, communicators
                                       mist




Resources
                               Years                         Decades
                                $$                            $$$$
Finding and retaining the                   People

right people

•   The right personal traits
    - Humility, empathy, listening, doing
    - Credibility with peers and research users

•   Collaboration with the right range of skills
    - Research disciplines, facilitators,
      communicators
•   Continuous engagement with research users
Creating the right project

                                             Project



•   High quality research

•   Appropriate scale (time and space) for
    research users

•   Adequate resources (time and money)
•   Flexibility to respond to users needs
A clear pathway for
application
                                        Pathway



•   Need for evidence-based decisions

•   Trust relationships with key research users

•   Co-identified problems and outputs

•   Opportunity for application
    - e.g. policy, plan, decision
Aligning people, pathway and project


                  People


                  Timely
                  Action
        Pathway            Project
Aligning the right                      People
people, right project and
right pathway
  Requires:                        Pathway       Project

  • Planning, leadership, timing
  • More from all partners
    • Researchers
    • Research users
    • Research funders
Aligning the right                      People
people, right project and
right pathway
  Requires:                        Pathway       Project

  • Planning, leadership, timing
  • More from all partners
  Results:
  • Defensible decisions & policies
  • Stakeholder support
  • Timely action
  • Publication

  Dynamic
  • Difficult to maintain alignment
TRaCK2- Future direction
1.       Interdisciplinary projects organised
         around solving problems
2.       Greater involvement of research users in
         co-identification of research problems
         and products
3.       Social-ecological systems framework

4.       Inspiring examples
     -     Willamette
Modeling future scenarios
              Pantus et al (2011)

                 Stoeckl et. al. (2011)
                                                        Financial Impact on Indigenous
                                                                  Households

                         Economic                   Financial Impact on Non-Indigenous
                        Development                             Households
                                                                                                                               Pantus and
                                                            Impact on the Environment                                          Barton (2011)
                                                          (in this case, water extraction)

                                                              Impact on Stream-Flows


                                              Cook et al (2010), Stewart-Koster et al (2011), Pusey et al (2011),
                                              Warfe et al (2011), Chan et al (2012), Linke et al (in press), Petit et al (in
                                              press)

                                               Flow and habitat requirements of fish and
                                                    impacts of altered stream flows

 Jackson et al (2011)

The Value of Wild Resources collected
    by Indigenous Householders


                                             Estimate of the financial value of the loss of wild
                                              resources caused by decreased stream flow




                                                         Net impact on the finances of Indigenous and non-
Jackson et al (2011), Stoeckl et al (2012)
                                                    Indigenous households (allowing for loss of wild resources)
    Socio-cultural values

                                                                   Impact of economic development on
                                                                Indigenous and non-Indigenous well-being
Conventional research activity




Arlletaz 2010
Research to action




Arlletaz 2010
Having the right people and
                                                People
project (but NOT the right
pathway)
                                                      Project

 Cause:
 • Problems identified only by researchers
 • Change in policy or government
 Positive consequences:
 • Good discovery science
 • Knowledge available when a pathway appears
 Negative consequences:
 • Process ends with “management implications”
 • Delayed or no action resulting from good
                                  Ref: Duarte, Return to Neverland paper
Having the right pathway and
project (but NOT the right
                                          Pathway   Project
people)
 Cause:
 • Can’t get the right people – (project never starts)
 • The right people move on (project ends) or
 • The project proceeds with the wrong people
 Positive consequences:
 • Can prepare for action, actively recruit the right
   people
 Negative consequences:
 • Unmet stakeholder expectations can damage
   reputation of organizations
 • Project damages relationships
Having the right people and                     People
pathway (but NOT the right
project)                                   Pathway

Causes:
• Resource limitations (project never starts or starts but
  falls short of expectations)
• Misalignment of scales
Positive consequences:
• Capability building, communication links
  open, planning can occur, positioned for funding
  opportunities
Negative consequences:
• Value of science not realized
• Decisions made without poor or no evidence
People value these rivers for many reasons
        Most important management                     Responses
                   issue                                 (%)

      Preserving for biodiversity & natural                40
                     habitat

      Preserving rivers for the people who                 20
             live there and visitors

           Producing food for Australia                    30
          Developing northern Australia                    6
           Providing food for the world                    4
Zander and Straton (2010) Ecological Economics
Zander et al. (2010) Journal of Environmental Management

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Keynote: Rivers of Northern Australia - Douglas

  • 1. Back to future: Can lessons from restoring the Willamette help to protect the rivers of northern Australia? Michael Douglas Director, TRaCK Research Hub Charles Darwin University
  • 2. Outline • The region • The issues • TRaCK • The future
  • 3. Australia’s wet-dry tropics • 25% of Australia (463,000 square miles) • 1.4% of Australia’s population (300,000 people) • 30% of population are Indigenous people
  • 4. Hot, wet season & hot, dry season 110 240 100 220 90 200 Temperature (F) or Humidity (%) 180 80 160 70 Rainfall (inches) 140 60 M ax. T em p. 120 50 M in. T em p. 100 40 9 am Hum idity Rainfall (T otal 650 inch) 80 30 60 20 40 10 20 0 0 Jan Feb M ar Apr M ay Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • 5.
  • 6.
  • 7.
  • 8.
  • 9.
  • 10.
  • 11. • 55 catchments • 50% of Australia’s river flow • <0.02% of water diverted
  • 12. Outline • The region • The issues • TRaCK • The future
  • 13. TRaCK - Research to support river and estuary management in northern Australia
  • 14. Heffernan touts the “Ord as the food bowl for the region” 2007 2008
  • 15. Research to support sustainable management • Increasing interest in developing northern Australia • Need to avoid the mistakes made in the past • Lack of basic knowledge of the full implications of future scenarios Fundamental need for research Historic opportunity
  • 16.
  • 17. TRaCK’s Aim To provide the science and knowledge that governments, communities and industries need for the sustainable management of Australia’s tropical rivers and estuaries
  • 18. TRaCK • 80 Researchers • 5 years • 30 Projects 1. Why do people value tropical rivers? 2. How do they differ across the region? 3. How do tropical rivers work? 4. What are the opportunities for Indigenous people? 5. How can we make good decisions about managing tropical rivers?
  • 19. Barramundi catch and annual flow 3 year moving averages with 4 year lag (R2=0.81) Robbins et al (2006) Marine and Freshwater Research
  • 20. Correlations of flow with fisheries production in tropical Australian estuaries Barramundi & Banana prawns N 200 0 200 400 Kilometers +ve Darwin +ve Ú Ê +ve +ve +ve Ú Ê Cairns Broome Ú Ê Ú Ê Townsville Rockhampton N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N NÚ N Ê N N N N Ian Halliday et al 2010
  • 21. Connected river systems support fisheries Where does the fish biomass come from? Jardine et al 2011 20% 45% River Estuary 35% Floodplain
  • 22. Western science and Indigenous knowledge
  • 23.
  • 24. Relative risk score Bla 10 15 20 25 30 Bu ck b tle r rs eam gru B Or arra nter dR m ive und r i Sle mul Gia ep let nt y co gu d Higher risk Bla dgeo We ck n ste Bony mas rn t rai brea Ba nb m rre owfi Ex d g sh qu run i L te Ma ste ra ong r cle inb tom ay ow ' Sp s gla fish an s gle sfish dp To erc oth h les Tarp o B s ca n Fly Snu lack tfish -sp b-n ca ec os tfis k d h No ed ha garfi rth s we rdyh h st ea Mo d uth glasf alm ish Bla Go ck- ld igh ba Hy en g ty Fish species nd rtl's ob ed t y Mi rai anda dg nbo n Pu ley w rpl 's g fish e-s run po Arch ter tte B d erfis Fa erne gudg h lse e -s y's c on Ka Prm pined atfis the i h rin tive a catfi e R rc sh ive her r g fish u dry season water extraction Sw dge am on Blu p e Sh Salm e ca el ov t el- on c fish no atf Em sed ish pi ca Relative risks of freshwater fish species to Fre re gu tfish s d Re hwa geo risk nd ter n De ahl' s lica s c ole te Lower atf blu ish e Pe -eye nn yfis h
  • 25. Aboriginal people rely on a wide range of river plants and animals Jackson et al 2011
  • 26. Relative risk score Bla 10 15 20 25 30 Bu ck b tle r rs eam gru B Or arra nter dR m ive und r i Sle mul Gia ep let nt y co gu d Higher risk Bla dgeo We ck n ste Bony mas rn t rai brea Ba nb m rre owfi Ex d g sh qu run i L te Ma ste ra ong r cle inb tom ay ow ' Sp s gla fish an s gle sfish dp To erc oth h les Tarp o B s ca n Fly Snu lack tfish -sp b-n ca ec os tfis k d h No ed ha garfi rth s we rdyh h st ea Mo d uth glasf alm ish Bla Go ck- ld igh ba Hy en g ty Fish species extraction – Daly River nd rtl's ob ed t y Mi rai anda dg nbo n Pu ley w rpl 's g fish e-s run po Arch ter tte B d erfis Fa erne gudg h lse e -s y's c on Ka Prm pined atfis the i h rin tive a catfi e R rc sh ive her r g fish u Sw dge am on Blu p e Sh Salm e ca el ov t el- on c fish no atf Em sed ish pi ca Fre re gu tfish s d Re hwa geo nd ter n De ahl' s lica s c ole te atf blu ish e Pe -eye nn yfis h Lower risk From Chan et al 2011 Some are at high risk from dry season water
  • 27. Future development scenarios (30 years) Management Strategy Evaluation, Daly River Indicator (c.f. to 2006) 5% Agriculture Indigenous  6% income Stoeckl et al (in press) Biological Conservation
  • 28. Future development scenarios (30 years) Management Strategy Evaluation, Daly River Indicator (c.f. to 2006) 5% Agriculture Indigenous  6% income Non-Indigenous  12% income Stoeckl et al (in press) Biological Conservation
  • 29. Future development scenarios (30 years) Management Strategy Evaluation, Daly River Indicator (c.f. to 2006) 5% Agriculture Indigenous  6% income Non-Indigenous  12% income Discharge  65% Stoeckl et al (in press) Biological Conservation
  • 30. Future development scenarios (30 years) Management Strategy Evaluation, Daly River Indicator (c.f. to 2006) 5% Agriculture Indigenous  6% income Non-Indigenous  12% income Discharge  65% Optimal fish  89% habitat/wild harvest Stoeckl et al (in press) Biological Conservation
  • 31. Future development scenarios (30 years) Management Strategy Evaluation, Daly River Indicator (c.f. to 2006) 5% Agriculture Indigenous  6% income Non-Indigenous  12% income Discharge  65% Optimal fish  89% habitat/wild harvest Stoeckl et al (in press) Biological Conservation
  • 32. Future development scenarios (30 years) Management Strategy Evaluation, Daly River Indicator (c.f. to 2006) 5% Agriculture 5% Government Indigenous  6%  45% income Non-Indigenous  12%  70% income Discharge  65%  25% Optimal fish  89%  47% habitat/wild harvest Stoeckl et al (in press) Biological Conservation
  • 33. Summary • TRaCK’s research is leading to a more informed debate - Society clearly values tropical rivers for many reasons - Communities are looking for balance - Clear trade-offs between different values • State governments are using this research to make decisions about water allocation
  • 34. Tony Abbott'sopposition party calls for a Federal plan for northern foodbowl network of new dams if elected by: Sid Maher From: The Australian September 17, 2011 12:00AM
  • 35. Outline • The region • The issues • TRaCK • The future
  • 36.
  • 37. Science process engaging stakeholders Science Stakeholders process
  • 38. Social processes may engage science Planning, policy, management Science ? process Stakeholders
  • 39. Partnership approach to achieve research outcomes & societal outcome
  • 40. A new approach: Actionable research or Transdisciplinary research Stakeholders Science process Stakeholders Science & Scientists Stakeholders ach tre Ou process Research Action
  • 41. Engagement Providing Consulting Joint Joint Supporting users informatio with users decision action initiatives n s s PARTNERSHIP
  • 42. Engagement Providing Consulting Joint Joint Supporting users informatio with users decision action initiatives n s s PARTNERSHIP Personal traits Hubris, authority, Humility, empathy, listening talking, credibility with , credibility with peers & peers users
  • 43. Engagement Providing Consulting Joint Joint Supporting users informatio with users decision action initiatives n s s PARTNERSHIP Personal traits Hubris, authority, talkin Humility, empathy, listening g, credibility with peers , credibility with peers & users Indicators of completion Publication Public action
  • 44. Scale Indiv., popl’n, Social ecological community Ecosystems Watersheds systems
  • 45. Scale Indiv., popl’n, Social ecological community Ecosystems Watersheds systems Disciplinarity Single- Multi- Inter- Trans- Researchers, research Ecologist, Ecologist Ecologist, users, facilitators, Integrat hydrologist, hydrologist ors, communicators planner, economist
  • 46. Scale Indiv., popl’n, Social ecological community Ecosystems Watersheds systems Disciplinarity Single- Multi- Inter- Trans- Researchers, research Ecologist, hydrolog Ecologist Ecologist, hydrolo users, facilitators, Integrat ist, planner, econo gist ors, communicators mist Resources Years Decades $$ $$$$
  • 47. Finding and retaining the People right people • The right personal traits - Humility, empathy, listening, doing - Credibility with peers and research users • Collaboration with the right range of skills - Research disciplines, facilitators, communicators • Continuous engagement with research users
  • 48. Creating the right project Project • High quality research • Appropriate scale (time and space) for research users • Adequate resources (time and money) • Flexibility to respond to users needs
  • 49. A clear pathway for application Pathway • Need for evidence-based decisions • Trust relationships with key research users • Co-identified problems and outputs • Opportunity for application - e.g. policy, plan, decision
  • 50. Aligning people, pathway and project People Timely Action Pathway Project
  • 51. Aligning the right People people, right project and right pathway Requires: Pathway Project • Planning, leadership, timing • More from all partners • Researchers • Research users • Research funders
  • 52. Aligning the right People people, right project and right pathway Requires: Pathway Project • Planning, leadership, timing • More from all partners Results: • Defensible decisions & policies • Stakeholder support • Timely action • Publication Dynamic • Difficult to maintain alignment
  • 53. TRaCK2- Future direction 1. Interdisciplinary projects organised around solving problems 2. Greater involvement of research users in co-identification of research problems and products 3. Social-ecological systems framework 4. Inspiring examples - Willamette
  • 54.
  • 55.
  • 56. Modeling future scenarios Pantus et al (2011) Stoeckl et. al. (2011) Financial Impact on Indigenous Households Economic Financial Impact on Non-Indigenous Development Households Pantus and Impact on the Environment Barton (2011) (in this case, water extraction) Impact on Stream-Flows Cook et al (2010), Stewart-Koster et al (2011), Pusey et al (2011), Warfe et al (2011), Chan et al (2012), Linke et al (in press), Petit et al (in press) Flow and habitat requirements of fish and impacts of altered stream flows Jackson et al (2011) The Value of Wild Resources collected by Indigenous Householders Estimate of the financial value of the loss of wild resources caused by decreased stream flow Net impact on the finances of Indigenous and non- Jackson et al (2011), Stoeckl et al (2012) Indigenous households (allowing for loss of wild resources) Socio-cultural values Impact of economic development on Indigenous and non-Indigenous well-being
  • 59. Having the right people and People project (but NOT the right pathway) Project Cause: • Problems identified only by researchers • Change in policy or government Positive consequences: • Good discovery science • Knowledge available when a pathway appears Negative consequences: • Process ends with “management implications” • Delayed or no action resulting from good Ref: Duarte, Return to Neverland paper
  • 60. Having the right pathway and project (but NOT the right Pathway Project people) Cause: • Can’t get the right people – (project never starts) • The right people move on (project ends) or • The project proceeds with the wrong people Positive consequences: • Can prepare for action, actively recruit the right people Negative consequences: • Unmet stakeholder expectations can damage reputation of organizations • Project damages relationships
  • 61. Having the right people and People pathway (but NOT the right project) Pathway Causes: • Resource limitations (project never starts or starts but falls short of expectations) • Misalignment of scales Positive consequences: • Capability building, communication links open, planning can occur, positioned for funding opportunities Negative consequences: • Value of science not realized • Decisions made without poor or no evidence
  • 62. People value these rivers for many reasons Most important management Responses issue (%) Preserving for biodiversity & natural 40 habitat Preserving rivers for the people who 20 live there and visitors Producing food for Australia 30 Developing northern Australia 6 Providing food for the world 4 Zander and Straton (2010) Ecological Economics Zander et al. (2010) Journal of Environmental Management

Editor's Notes

  1. Many of the fish species included in this risk assessment were harvested by indigenous people over the period of our surveys. Out of the top ten species that make the largest contribution to hh income, three species were found to be at high risk from dry season water extraction: Barramundi, Black Bream and Mullet were within the top ten species in the Daly (according to the replacement method of valuation). Black Bream (first bar) was at high risk (30) as was Barramundi (28) (third bar) and Mullet (27) (fourth bar)Those species that are highlighted as being at high-medium risk of late dry season water extraction make up 21% of the total replacement value in the Daly River.Consumption of the top ten species equates to 5% of HH income in the Daly i.e. $67 per fortnight.