Integrating science into marine conservation management: a ... · Dugong hotspot areas in the...
Transcript of Integrating science into marine conservation management: a ... · Dugong hotspot areas in the...
Integrating science into marine conservation management: a knowledge
exchange framework
D R K E L LY WA P L E S , D E PA R T M E N T O F B I O D I V E R S I T Y, C O N S E R VAT I O N A N D AT T R A C T I O N S
D R P E T E R B AY L I S S , C S I R O
D R S T U A R T F I E L D , D E PA R T M E N T O F B I O D I V E R S I T Y, C O N S E R VAT I O N A N D AT T R A C T I O N S
WAMSI
Better Science Better Decisions
Collaboration between Partners
WHAT?
• Movement of information between scientists and managers
• Influences management decisions and practices (policy, planning, operations)
• Relies on shared understanding, interpretation of science and understanding of applications
Better science Better decisions
Knowledge exchange
Research not related to
management questions
Information is not
available to managers
Cannot interpret
or use results/
products
Barriers to knowledge exchange
How?
1. Identify end users, their information needs and priorities
2. Focus research on agreed management questions
3. Undertake research – stick to the plan
4. Determine application to management strategies
5. Deliver findings and outcomes to ‘users’ in a useful format
Knowledge exchange
Key elements
• Identifying and including end users throughout
• Maintaining dialogue between scientists and end users
• Using an intermediary to interpret and drive process
• Ensuring data are available and accessible
• Tools and products
Interpretation Communication Data Management
Kimberley Marine Research Program
$12M investment $30M program
Undertake a program of marine research to support the conservation and
management of the proposed State marine parks in the Kimberley
“… to recognize and conserve one of the world’s last great wilderness areas”
Network of Indigenous Protected
Areas and jointly managed Marine
Parks
1. Identify end users and information needsTraditional owners State government
KMRP Science Plan
• Building a regional picture of the Kimberley
• Biological, physical and social characterization
• Ecosystem processes and human impacts
1. Identify end users and information needs
Social Physical
Plants and Animals
Environment and Habitats
Benthic biodiversity
Crocodiles
Sea turtles
Whales
Dolphins
Dugongs
Shorebirds
Benthic productivity
Mapping productivity
Connectivity
Recruitment and herbivory
Seagrass
Climate change
Geomorphology
Sediments
Remote SensingIndigenous knowledge
Human use
Social values
MSE Modeling
BiologicalValues and management Background
> 80 scientists, 25 projects,
10 indigenous communities
Processes
Calcification
Biogeochemistry
Land – Ocean links
Oceanographic dynamics
Social Physical
Plants and Animals
Environment and Habitats
Benthic biodiversity
Crocodiles
Sea turtles
Whales
Dolphins
Dugongs
Shorebirds
Benthic productivity
Mapping productivity
Connectivity
Recruitment and herbivory
Seagrass
Climate change
Geomorphology
Sediments
Remote SensingIndigenous knowledge
Human use
Social values
MSE Modeling
BiologicalValues and management Background
> 80 scientists, 25 projects,
10 indigenous communities
Processes
Calcification
Biogeochemistry
Land – Ocean links
Oceanographic dynamics
• What are the distribution and abundance of dugongs in the Kimberley?
• What, when and where are their critical habitats?
• What environmental factors may influence the above patterns?
• What are appropriate spatial management units?
• What cost-effective methods can be used to monitor dugong population
health, including the pressures?
2. Focus research on management questions
• Develop long-term partnerships with Kimberley Indigenous ranger groups and communities
• Integrate Indigenous & scientific knowledge to work out how best to monitor and manage populations
• Determine regional-scale patterns of dugong distribution & abundance
KMRP Dugong project aims
3. Undertake research
3. Undertake researchCultural maps were combined with scientific data on seagrass to design a more efficient survey
Survey blocks & transects
More survey transects/effort
located over cultural sites,
predicted seagrass areas, and
in shallow waters (<20m)
Cost savings ~ 35% less survey
time
3. Undertake research
Involving end users in research
Aerial survey Satellite tagging
Dugong hotspot areas in the Kimberley from combined knowledge sources
4. Determine application to management
• Relative abundance
• Marine park zoning
• Monitoring methods
5. Deliver findings and outcomes• Presentations to Indigenous rangers and Parks and Wildlife
• Recommendations on a cost effective monitoring program for local dugong populations
• Data, images and maps provided to joint managers
Lessons learned
• Focus on knowledge exchange leaves strong legacy
• Partnerships
• Cost effective use of resources
• Tools and products that can be used by managers
• Effective knowledge exchange relies on strong communication
• Shared understanding
• Ongoing dialogue
• Intermediary as driver
Better science Better decisions
Acknowledgments
The State Government of Western Australia and WAMSI partners
Researchers
• Tom Vigilante (WGAC), Jarrad Holmes (Dambi), Scott Whiting (DBCA), Tony Tucker (DBCA), Rachel Groom (NT DLRM), Mat Vanderklift(CSIRO)
Traditional owners
• From Balanggarra, Uunguu (Wunambal Gaambera), Dambimangari, and Bardi Jawi