Beyond the horizon: Mapping future challenges and opportunities for the CLLMM region using a horizon scan approach

Le résumé fourni par la source

The Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) region covers approximately 142,500 hectares and includes areas of local, national, and international significance. The CLLMM region is highly vulnerable due to the combined pressures of upstream water regulation, inherent ecological sensitivity and climate change. Climate change impacts will be increasingly realised as declining freshwater inflows, increasing ambient temperatures, and rising sea levels pose significant challenges to the region. The region is ecologically, culturally, and socially important which makes the CLLMM a highly valued and dynamic landscape involving diverse stakeholders, including First Nations community and organisations, community and community organisations, researchers, industry, and management agencies. Increasingly, incorporating local knowledge through community consultation is recognised as essential to effective environmental research and management.To support shared contributions that guide the future direction of knowledge generation in the region, we applied an inclusive two-phase horizon scan methodology to engage a diverse range of stakeholders. Phase 1 involved a survey (N=639) capturing perspectives on key challenges, opportunities, and novel unasked questions. Phase 2 consisted of a stakeholder workshop to identify priority issues through deeper analysis of the survey data. Results from the survey highlighted a wide range of themes, reflecting the region’s complexity. The outcomes of the horizon scan readily synthesise into five main pillars:Water Security and System Management,Climate Change and Future Extremes,Ecosystems, Biodiversity, and Fauna,Environmental Protection, Rehabilitation, and Restoration, andHuman Systems, Governance, and Community Engagement.The pillars reflect the top five challenges, opportunities and novel unasked questions of the horizon scan. The identified pillars direct research that will enhance predictive understanding through forecasting and scenario planning. Additionally, they improve the evidence-base for biodiversity conservation and restoration actions. Further, the pillars support better governance and collaboration, strengthened education, science communication, and community-based involvement. A focus on this research direction will generate knowledge to support integrative and adaptive management under uncertainty that can translate into robust decision-making and action to shape the future of the CLLMM region.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.