Supporting Regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) organisations to update their NRM plans for adaptation to climate change

Abstract

Our paper presents an innovative co-research approach to addressing the challenges faced by Australian NRM organisations in managing the impacts of climate change on natural resources. The project involves four regional NRM organisations and researchers from two major research institutions. The four NRM organisations in the 'Wet Tropics Cluster' (WTC) are: (i) Reef Catchments NRM, (ii) Terrain NRM, (iii) Cape York NRM, and (iv) Torres Strait Regional Authority. They cover the major part of the far northeastern coastal region of Queensland, Australia. This region is recognised globally for its outstanding natural values and NRM organisations are responsible for meeting international obligations to manage and maintain the high biodiversity values as well as balancing a wide range of social, economic, cultural and environmental needs. In the face of a changing climate, NRM organisations are required to also incorporate planning strategies that are aimed at mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change. This project is aimed at supporting NRM organisations in their planning, first by establishing a 'Brokering Hub' for the WTC, which brings together researchers and NRM organisations to guide the work of the WTC and facilitate the development and communication of new knowledge and tools. The research component of the Brokering Hub is divided into three 'Science Nodes', one of which is the 'Participatory Scenarios and Knowledge Integration Node. (Figure 1). Our initial work in this Node has focused on the identification of focal issues and key drivers of change in the four NRM regions through a participatory process with members of the Brokering Hub. The results from this process have highlighted similarities and key differences between regions, indicating the specific scientific information needs required by each NRM organisation to develop potential climate adaption responses. In order to address the issues and information needs of NRM organisations, new knowledge and tools will be generated by the Science Nodes in collaboration with the NRM organisations. Our innovative co-research approach equips the regions well for this task. Figure 1. Co-research approach that promotes long-term system well-being and collective learning.