Home > Policies

AUSTRALIAN WETLAND FORUM

A strategy to stop and reverse the loss and degradation of Australian wetlands

Prepared from information presented at the
Australian Wetland Forum
Darwin 8 July 2000

The Australian Wetland Forum was jointly organised by the Australian Society for Limnology (ASL) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Australia) with support from Wetland Care Australia (WCA) and the National Centre for Tropical Wetland Research (NCTWR).

Final version April 2001

The Forum

This strategy to stop and reverse the loss and degradation of Australian wetlands was developed at the inaugural Australian Wetland Forum held on 8 July 2000 in Darwin. The Forum had an open invitation and was encompassed within the Australian Society for Limnology’s (ASL) annual congress held from 7-10 July 2000. The aim of the forum was to comment on policies, programs and actions that influence Australian wetland conservation, management and science.

The Forum was structured to encourage communication between wetland stakeholders across Australia and built on recent fora such as the Wetland Care Australia meeting held in late-1999. The Forum focussed on linkages between wetland scientists and conservationists, as expressed by the respective memberships of ASL and WWF, and provided a vital link with community-based wetland groups, as expressed by the participation of Wetland Care Australia.

The Forum included expert talks on a variety of topics. Discussion sessions following the talks were used to identify priority issues and actions for inclusion in the strategy. In this respect the strategy is a consensus-based document that outlines some of the steps for wetland conservation and management in Australia for the next decade. There is no pretence that the strategy is complete – this could not be achieved in a one day forum. Much else needs to be done and many other actions are required. Here we present those that were outlined on this occasion.

The Strategy

The strategy produced by the Forum is aimed at general users and managers of wetlands and the wider public.

The goal of the Strategy is:

To stop and reverse the loss and degradation of Australian wetlands.

The structure of the strategy is built around four components:

1. Telling stories about wetland management
2. Implementing policies and initiatives
3. Providing mechanisms to involve all sectors
4. A view of the next steps necessary

Each of these components is presented with a summary statement, followed by specific strategies and matching actions.

1. Telling stories about wetland management

Traditional wetland managers have valued wetlands and considered them integral to their own existence and well-being. The values and benefits derived from wetlands were not squandered for short-term or individual profit – they belonged to the community in perpetuity. This situation still occurs where Aboriginal people have traditional ownership of and access to wetlands. However, the story in many other places is one of neglect resulting in the loss and degradation of wetlands, and more latterly, recognised attempts at wetland rehabilitation. The causes of this neglect are familiar and include disruption of historic water regimes, salinisation, pollution and eutrophication, drainage and infilling, invasion by exotic species, overharvesting of individual products, and large-scale changes to the surrounding landscapes. The reasons for this neglect are not as openly acknowledged and include population and development pressures, lack of awareness and political will, centralised and sectoral management. More recently, concerted actions have been thwarted by a surfeit of policies and studies rather than directed actions (see Component 2).

The future of all remaining wetlands depends upon rapid actions to treat the causes and redress the reasons for past loss and degradation. Treating the causes without redressing the reasons is unlikely to be effective. In doing this it is necessary to recognise that valid information exists in many forms and can be collected under vastly different paradigms. Knowledge concerning wetlands can be constructed from peoples’ stories which recount events and activities of local owners, and features of cultural, heritage and/or scientific importance.

Strategy 1

• Establish processes to value and exchange information between stakeholders, including local communities and Aboriginal people, and enable different information sources to be assessed and incorporated into our generic information base for wetland management.
• Develop greater cooperation and support between local wetland owners, users and managers, and wetland scientists and conservationists.

• Provide a forum for stories to be told and to be collected
• Arrange appropriate meetings between wetland stakeholders to identify both existing and future problems.
• Combine forces with other wetland stakeholders to lobby and influence governmental policy and programs.
• Meet with and exchange information between local communities and Aboriginal people and scientists and conservationists.

2. Implementing wetland/water policies and initiatives

It is recognised that wetlands can not be managed independent of their landscape context. They are part of an interconnected biophysical and social complex. Given the role of wetlands in the landscape it is nonsensical to separate wetland management from other water and landscape management programs.

Multiple causes and similar effects, and the need for flexible solutions

Despite recognising that wetland loss and degradation still continues we often do not have adequate data to either describe the ecological character of the remaining wetlands, that is, describe the species habitats and assemblages, and the ecological processes that support them, or assess the extent and rate of adverse change.

Wetlands are often inter-connected and actions at one site can have an effect on another. Many animals migrate between wetlands and in some places regular flooding provides a physical connection. Further, the factors that shape the future of wetlands can occur at an individual site and at a landscape scale. Planning, legislation or regulatory processes that treat wetlands as separate entities may not be able to address limits to development or conflicts between wetland uses. Flexible solutions are required to address the multiple causes of wetland loss and degradation. These are dependent on obtaining and using credible scientific data and coordination between users of these data.

Strategies

• Encourage the adoption of adaptive management approaches that encompass recognition that many wetlands are lost or degraded by a multitude of problems, and that acknowledge the need for long-term monitoring programs based on credible scientific practice and a clear articulation of the problems and objectives.

• Improve coordination between agencies and local groups that exert an influence on wetlands and scientists who monitor and study wetlands, but who do not regularly articulate the implications of their results.

• Provide assistance to wetland scientists to present their results in formats suited to wetland managers and others whose activities adversely affect wetlands.
• Provide scientific input to governmental policy and programs (eg water reform policy and departmental enquiries) and ensure adequate monitoring is included.
• Hold meetings between wetland conservationists and scientific stakeholders to advocate the use of sound adaptive management approaches that take into account regional differences.
• Seek links with environmental advocates and key pressure groups (eg land developers and local councils) through existing or new media and communicate in simple terms the importance of wetlands and the implications of wetland loss.

Wetland/water initiatives and policies

Recent national policy and legislation has provided the first steps towards developing and implementing a national approach to wetland management that encompasses the policy framework and principles outlined under the Ramsar Wetland Convention. Developing consistent state/territory polices and building alliances with non-governmental groups and local wetland users are assisting with making wetlands a ‘mainstream’ political issue. Public consultation mechanisms have been developed and in some states wetland advisory committees have been established to oversee the implementation of agreed policies and programs. There is an urgent need for implementation now.

Strategies:

• Develop greater consistency and completeness of a national approach to wetland management and representative aquatic reserves (including systematic fulfilment of our national obligations under the Ramsar Wetlands Convention).
• Develop mechanisms for interaction between agencies and create conditions for greater staff stability within agencies as a basis for reducing corporate memory loss, suspicion and mistrust.

• Assist governmental agencies and wetland advisory committees complete a national framework for wetland conservation that achieves key performance criteria and protects existing wetlands.
• Produce a handbook of tools for wetland conservation and management based on the national framework and international guidelines.
• Prepare and review management plans for all Ramsar sites, including the implementation and review of monitoring programs.

Cooperative support for wetland/water research and development programs

Australian wetlands are predominantly located on private land; however, many landholders do not see the value of wetlands, or actively dislike them. For wetland conservation and management to be effective we need to cooperate with landholders in framing the research questions and making use of the outcomes. Wetland research and development programs have not been sufficiently supported by funds for communication or extension services. Further, whilst past research effort has attracted a large amount of ancillary support the formal funding mechanisms have either been discontinued or further support has not been committed. This leads to doubts about our ability to maintain a national research capacity.

Strategies:

• Assist governmental agencies to develop a longer term and holistic vision for wetland research and development, including rehabilitation, with sharing of information and avoidance of reactionary approaches to funding.
• Encourage greater interaction and cooperation between governmental agencies to develop effective and flexible programs that address major information gaps (eg for arid zone wetlands, effect of episodic events) and monitoring of the long-term future of wetlands (eg in relation to global climate change).
• Support efforts to distribute and share the information that is obtained from research programs and ensure this reaches the users and those who can influence the future of wetlands.

• Lobby governmental agencies to continue or to contribute towards funding wetland research and development programs, especially those that provide a base for direct wetland assessment and measurement of variability.
• Promote discussion of wetland management and the usefulness of wetland research information in fora that include wetland managers, bureaucrats and social scientists and land planners.

International wetland/water treaties

Australia is party to bilateral waterbird conservation treaties, the Ramsar Wetland Convention, the Bonn Convention on Migratory Species, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species. How effective have these agreements been? Can the general principles and good-will generated by these mechanisms be used to produce tangible results on the ground? Listing of wetlands as internationally important can raise the profile of wetlands and encourage more effective conservation, including that undertaken by private landholders.

The federal Environment Protection, Biodiversity and Conservation Act 1999 provides a legislative means to enact the purpose of international environment treaties.

Strategies:

• Develop an integrated national framework for the implementation of the Ramsar Wetland Convention and other conservation treaties.
• Develop a program for supporting national wetland conservation beyond cessation of the Natural Heritage Trust funding.
• Encourage effective implementation of the EPBC Act 1999 particularly for wetland habitats and species.

• Assist private landholders and governmental officials to list nationally important wetland sites under the Ramsar Convention and EPBC Act 1999, and to develop management plans.
• Provide information to scientists and landholders (via listservers and meetings respectively) about listing procedures of the EPBC Act 1999, and the information that is required for nominations to be successful.
• Hold further meetings with mixed audiences to outline the value of scientific input to conservation programs and legislative mechanisms and develop specific outputs in relation to these (eg shadow Ramsar listings, key threatening processes, or menacing pests).
• Include within ASL conferences special sessions on the processes for and benefits that can be derived from listing of sites and threatening processes (eg invasive species) under the EPBC Act 1999.

3. Providing mechanisms to involve all sectors

Involving all sectors in wetland management and conservation includes recognising the role and aspirations of all stakeholders and promoting the values and benefits that we derive from wetlands. This is a process for all sectors and not the preserve of one agency, institution or culture.

Increasing awareness through education and outreach programs

A range of organisations concerned with developing and communicating a message about wetland conservation and management already exist and have specific roles. Governmental support for such programs has been shown through WaterWatch, Landcare, the National Wetlands Program and now the Communication, Education, Participation and Awareness (CEPA) program which has been developed in support of an international initiative from the Ramsar Wetland Convention.

Strategies:

• Increase the extent of and participation in the national CEPA program to ‘get the message right’ and recognise the ‘conflicts’ and demands on wetland resources and between users.
• Establish a wider support base for CEPA activities across all of society and within funding circles to acquire a commitment to funding and resources for communication activities.
• Promote and assist with the specific involvement of scientists in communication and awareness activities with an emphasis on the specific role and knowledge that they hold and the relevance of this information to other wetland users and managers.

• Undertake specific training programs focussed on consistent plain language messages to link the wetland ‘players’ and share knowledge.
• Promote the common purpose of wetland stakeholders and assist them in addressing problems that exist today and those they will face tomorrow (eg climate change and water quality and quantity).
• Extend the network of groups and individuals involved in CEPA activities, including scientists and academics and collate some clear and essential plain language (free of jargon) messages about wetlands.
• Undertake specific analyses of how people learn and respond to messages about wetlands and hence how these messages can be best broadcast, taking into account the possible need for specialist training in communication skills.

Involving the private sector through incentives and consultation

The private sector should be involved in wetland management and conservation as they have influence on the future and fate of many wetlands. Further, they can provide a direct line to those who make decisions about wetlands. Incentives to involve the private sectors are needed and could ideally be linked to the rationale of doing business – making a profit from sustainable activities. Involving the private sector may require a shift in attitude by components of the scientific, conservation and governmental sectors; to be an effective voice in wetland conservation the private sector will need nourishing and support through direct and indirect actions.

Strategies:

• Develop a wider range of financial/tax incentives and inducements to involve the private sector more fully in wetland conservation and management, including cooperation with non-governmental and community-based groups.
• Foster strategic partnerships and simple non-bureaucratic processes that support involvement of the private sector in national programs without the encumbrances of some current funding processes.
• Develop independent accreditation schemes for private sector groups involved in wetland conservation as a basis for encouraging investment and support of ‘green’ companies.

• Engage the private sector in wetland conservation activities through support of their initiatives (eg cause-related marketing) and recognition of their role and influence, especially at key-sites for wetland conservation.
• Ask private enterprises how they would like to be involved and keep them informed of current programs and incentives that encourage their involvement and support of community-based programs and research.
• Promote use of existing financial and tax incentives in support of clear and consistent messages about the values and benefits that can be derived from wetlands and support of wetland conservation and rehabilitation schemes.

4. Where next?

As we address the actions outlined above we need to consider and develop further actions and alliances to achieve these. The evidence is already before us – scientists, conservationists and community-based groups will achieve less if they do not combine with each other and positively engage the public and private sectors in addressing a common goal. There is a role for each and each has a role in developing the synergy needed to stop and reverse the loss and degradation of Australian wetlands.

Distribution of the strategy

The strategy was not produced for the singular usage of participants in the inaugural Forum. To be effective it needs to be widely distributed and debated by all stakeholders. This is an ongoing process and one that extends beyond the organisers and participants in the inaugural Forum. ASL and WWF-Australia encourage the wider distribution of this Strategy and forgo any copyright claim on the document.

Strategy:

• Distribute the strategy through available media outlets and organisations and encourage its adoption by stakeholders.

• Place the strategy on the ASL and WWF-Australia web sites and draw it to the attention of members and wetland stakeholders through other media such as newsletters and listservers
• Distribute the strategy to other wetland interest groups and seek their support in addressing the identified actions.
• Send the strategy to all state/territory conservation and/or environment agencies and to relevant federal agencies and corporations.

Review of the strategy

Components of the strategy will soon date and require reassessment. Acceptance of the strategy and its recommended actions will soon alter the priorities currently identified. Other parts of the strategy will continue and require long-term attention and interest. The currency of the strategy will need addressing by individual stakeholders and feedback provided to others.

Strategy:

• Encourage individual stakeholders to assess the currency of the strategy and provide feedback to all other stakeholders, and to redefine their priorities accordingly.

• Collate and circulate feedback on the strategy to stakeholders in the Forum and encourage reassessment of priority actions and their effectiveness.
• Request stakeholders in the Forum to collaboratively develop further meetings and events to build-on and further develop the strategy.

Acknowledgements

This strategy was prepared by a small working group from ASL and WWF-Australia. on the basis of material presented during the inaugural Forum held in Darwin, 8 July 2000. The speakers and participants are thanked for their contributions during the Forum and in commenting on earlier drafts of the Strategy. Liz Brown is especially thanked for facilitating the Forum.

The support of ASL and WWF in developing the Forum and the Strategy was essential, as was the logistical support of the National Centre for Tropical Wetland Research in organising the Forum.

The support of all wetland stakeholders in supporting the actions promoted by the Strategy is anticipated.