Taking our Environmental Pulse · M ap rod uc eb yE RI Nf th i nls vS m, A G D ep artm nof S u si bly, E v W P d C May 2012. P roje c ti n : Alb s Eq ua- Dm G 94 N: \ RS IB A7_maps

$Page 1: Taking our Environmental Pulse · M ap rod uc eb yE RI Nf th i nls vS m, A G D ep artm nof S u si bly, E v W P d C May 2012. P roje c ti n : Alb s Eq ua- Dm G 94 N: \ RS IB A7_maps$
Taking our Environmental Pulse A strategy for monitoring ecosystems in Australia Technical Report

TakingourEnvironmentalPulseAstrategyformonitoringecosystemsinAustralia

“Help address the loss of species, ecosystems and genetic diversity – a truly global and generational threat to human

well-being”

Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)

Executive Secretary, Dr. Anne Larigauderie 2019

1TakingourEnvironmentalPulse

Preparedby:NoelPreece,TeresaEyre,BenSparrow,BryonyHorton,AlisonFoster,TimWills,EmmaBurns,GlendaWardle,AlanAndersen,PaulineMeleStephenvanLeeuwen,AnitaSmythandRachelStandish.PublishedbyEcosystemScienceCouncil.Suggestedcitation:NoelD.Preece,TeresaEyre,BenSparrow,BryonyHorton,AlisonFoster,TimWills,EmmaBurns,GlendaWardle,AlanAndersen,PaulineMeleStephenvanLeeuwen,AnitaSmythandRachelStandish(2020)TakingourEnvironmentalPulse.AstrategyformonitoringecosystemsinAustralia.EcosystemScienceCouncil.CreativeCommons.©2019TakingourEnvironmentalPulse.AstrategyformonitoringecosystemsinAustraliaislicensedundertheCreativeCommonsAttribution3.0Australia

License.Toviewacopyofthislicense,visithttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/orsendalettertoCreativeCommons,POBox1866,MountainView,CA94042,USA.EnablingEcosystemSurveillance,whichthisstrategyaddresses,isagoalofFoundationsforthefuture:Along-termplanforAustralianecosystemscience1.


Ecosystemsarecommunitiesoflivingorganismsandnon-livingcomponentssuchasatmosphere,water,andsoil.

Australia’secosystemsareessentialforpeopleandallspecies.

Healthyecosystemsprovidefundamentalecosystemservicestopeople.

Ourdecisionsandactionsimpactourecosystems,andwehavearesponsibilitytomanagethemwellforcurrentandfuturegenerations.

Biodiversityiskeytothedeliveryofmultipleecosystemservicesinourrapidly

changingworld.

Ecosystemsarevitalnationalassets,andlikeallimportantassetsweneedtounderstandhowtheyarechangingifwearetomanagethemwell.

Monitoringprovidestheinformationtoinformusaboutchanges.

Australian,StateandTerritorygovernmentsrecognisethaturgentactionisneededtoidentify,preventandreverseecosystemandbiodiversitydecline.

Australianeedsasystematic,continental-scaleecosystemsurveillancenetwork

thatmonitorstheconditionofourterrestrialandmarineecosystems.


1 Contents 1 Ecosystemmonitoring............................................................................................................51.1 Theneedforecosystemsurveillancemonitoring.............................................51.2 Whatisecosystemsurveillancemonitoring?...................................................141.3 Howlongwillittake?.................................................................................................161.4 Whatwillbemonitored?...........................................................................................16

Table1-ExamplesofcandidateEssentialBiodiversityVariables28..............171.5 Benefitsofecosystemmonitoring/surveillance.............................................171.6 Thechallengesofecosystemsurveillancemonitoring................................19

2 Enablingecosystemsurveillance....................................................................................202.1 ThecurrentstateofecosystemmonitoringinAustralia............................202.2 Anationalecosystemsurveillancemonitoringandreportingsystem.21EnablingCondition1.Socio-Politicalcommitment..............................................23EnablingCondition2.Financialcommitment........................................................24EnablingCondition3.Robustconsistentmethodologyandprogramdesign........................................................................................................................................................26EnablingCondition4.Leveragingandadaptingexistingmonitoringsystems.......................................................................................................................................27EnablingCondition5.Communicationandengagement...................................29

3 ProgramDesign......................................................................................................................314 Appendix–Policybrief........................................................................................................33References.........................................................................................................................................35


SynthesisTheEcosystemScienceCouncilproposesanationalsurveillancemonitoringprogramthatmeasuresthehealthofourecosystems.ThisgoalwasestablishedinFoundationsfortheFuture:Along-termplanforAustralianecosystemscience.Thisrequiresnationalcommitmentstofiveenablingconditions.Condition1: Socio-PoliticalcommitmentCondition2: FinancialcommitmentCondition3: RobustconsistentmethodologyandprogramdesignCondition4: Leveragingandadaptingexistingmonitoring

systemsCondition5: CommunicationandengagementPriorityrecommendations

Ø Establishanationalecosystemsurveillancenetworkthatisaccessible,adaptable,integrated,consistent,long-termandsecure.

Ø Coordinatethenetworkthroughanindependentnationalenvironmental

commission,incooperationwithstateandterritoryenvironmentalandecosystemmanagementagencies.

Ø Worktowardsacommitmentfromallpoliticalparties,decision-makers

andinfluencersforon-goingmonitoring.

Ø Resourcetheecosystemsurveillancenetworkthroughlegislation,policiesandlong-termbindingplans.

Ø SecurefinancialinvestmentfromFederalandjurisdictional

environmentalagencies,startingwithreinstatementoffundingoftheenvironmentportfoliosthathavebeencutoverrecentyears.

Ø Harnesstheinnovationsandopportunitiesaffordedbyadvancesinbig

data,technologyandexpertiseinthescienceofecosystems,andinvestinresearchtoimplementnewtechnologiesinthefield.

Ø BuildonexistingGovernmentenvironmentinstitutionstoprovidelong-termsupportforscientistsimplementingmonitoring,andmaintainingdatabasesandnetworkinfrastructure.


1 Ecosystem monitoring

1.1 The need for ecosystem surveillance monitoring Ourecosystemsarevitalnationalassets,supportingusall,andcanbemanagedeffectivelyonlyifwehaveanongoingcapacitytotrackandmonitortheircondition.Effectivemonitoringofassetsisacorerequirementofanybusinessmanagement.Thesameistrueforthebusinessofecosystemmanagement.

Fig.1Australia’sterrestrialbiogeographicregionsencompassecosystems,whicharenestedwithinthecolouredbiogeographicregionsdepictedonthemap.

DARWIN

HOBART

PERTH

SYDNEYADELAIDE

BRISBANE

MELBOURNE

GSD02

TAN01

MUR01

GID01

NUL02

SSD02

GVD02

GSD01

GVD03

LSD02

PIL01

MGD02

GAS03

GFU01

CER01

MGD07

OVP02

VIB01

PIL03

MUR02

SSD05

AVW01

CAR02

NUL01

MII03

NOK01

COO02

GVD04

DAL02

GUP04

CHC03

SSD03

COO03

GVD06

GAS02

BBS12

DRP03

STU02CEK01

MAL02

NSS02

TAN03

YAL02

EIU04

STU03

GAS01

BRT02

GVD05

DAL01

GUP05

MGD04

MAL01

RIV02

CHC02

MDD06

OVP01

GID02

CEA01

STP03

FIN03

PCK01CYP07

JAF02

DMR03

CHC01

RIV01

MDD01

NOK02

CEK02

RIV03

MGD05

DAB01

COP04

STU01

FLB03

BBN07

STP06

MDD02

GVD01

NSS01

MGD08

MUL08

EIU02

BRT01

AVW02

DEU02

MUL10

DAC01

BBN11

FIN01

GUC01

GFU02

CYP08

MUL05

SVP01

RIV04

PIL02

CAR01

GUP03

BBS10

EYB05

MGD03

JAF01

MUL11

CHC05

STP07

DRP04

MUL01

CYP01

COP03

GES01

FIN02

GUP06

CYP06

BHC01

GAW05

CHC08

SEC02

EIU03

COO01

BBS17

GAW03

COP02

FLB05

STP02 CHC06

MUL07

TAN02

MII01

MDD05

YAL01

ARC02

GUP02

ESP01

MUL02

GUP07

DMR02

TWE01

DEU04

DEU01

CYP04

MAC01

CHC04

GAW06

GUP09

ESP02

SSD01

MDD04

GAW08DRP01

BBS13

BBN06

SEH02

GAW07

BBS04

GAW02

MAC03

STP01

MUL06

ARP02

BBS18

SEH16

BBS08

PIL04

BHC04

VIM02

SEH01

EIU01

NUL03

BBN14

GES02

DMR01

ARC03

DRP02

GUP08

MUL03

TSE01

EYB02

EYB04

COP05

FLB02

SWA02

MGD01

CHC11

MUL14

BBN02

BBS01

MAC02

ARP01

HAM01

FIN04

FLB06

GUP01

LSD01

SSD04

BBN13

GAW01

BBS07

MII02

DEU03

BBS15

MDD07

CEK03

SEQ01

SEQ07

EIU05

OVP04

CHC07SEQ05

VIB03

FLB04

VIM01

SEQ02

TSR01

TCH01

WAR01

BBS02

SCP01

BBN01

BBN03

EIU06

OVP03

CHC12

GAW04

BBS06

NCP03

EYB03

AUA01

MUL09

GSD04

SYB04

NCP04

BHC06

BEL01

STP05BBS11

BBN10

SEQ08

DRP07

VIM04

TNS01

SEH06

BHC02

SEQ03

TIW01

SEC01

CMC03

CHC13

SEQ06

SEH14

BRT04

MUL04

MUL16

BBS16

CER03

CYP02

NCP02

SEH13

DRP06

SEH15

MUL12

CYP05

SYB05

SEH09

BBN08

NCP01

BBN12

EYB01

KAN01

CMC02

SEH07

RIV06

CER02

MGD06

TNM01

BRT03

BBN05

MUL13

BBN09

KAN02

COP01

SWA01

GSD03

SEH04

WET09

KIN01

CEA02

FLB01

BBS05

MUL15

FUR02

BBS28

SEH10

BBS09

SEH12

GSD05

SYB08

BHC05

SYB09

SCP03

WET06

SEQ04

VIM03

MDD03

TIW02

ARC04

BBS03

WET05

SCP02

WET01

VIB02

CYP09

AUA02

SEQ09

RIV05

SYB13

WET03

SEC03

WET04

BBS14

DRP08

STP04

SYB14

WET07

SYB12

WET02

DRP09

ARC01

WET08

CHC10

GUP10

BBN04

CMC04

GSD06

CMC01

CMC05

CMC06

FUR01

GUC02

ARC05CYP03

ITI03

COS01

PSI01

SEQ14

0 250 500 750 1,000kms

DRP03

NAN04

BBS24

BBS25

NAN01

NNC07

BBS22

NNC17

SEQ10

BBS26

SEQ13

BBS19BBS20

NSS01 SYB01

BBS23

BBS21

NET03

NNC12

BBS18

SYB02

NET16

SEQ11

SEQ12

NNC03

NNC06NET04

NET07

NET15

NNC16

NAN02

NNC14

NET11

NNC04

BBS17

NET10

NNC09

NET01

NET12

NNC11

NET09

SEQ02

NNC02

NET18

SEQ03

NNC15 NNC13

NET05

BBS27

NET06NNC18

NNC10

NET17

NAN03

SYB04

NET13

NET14

NNC05

NET08

SYB05

NNC08

SEQ04

Data source:IBRA version 7 (2012) was developed through co-operative efforts of the AustralianGovernment Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population andCommunities and State/Territory land management agencies.Topographic Data - Australia - 1:10 million (c) Geoscience Australia, 1994.All rights reserved.

Caveats:Data used are assumed to be correct as received from the data suppliers.

(c) Commonwealth of Australia 2012Map produced by ERIN for the National Reserve Systems Section, Australian GovernmentDepartment of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra,May 2012.

Projection: Albers Equal Area - Datum: GDA94

N:\NRS\IBRA\IBRA7\IBRA7_maps

Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia, Version 7This map depicts the Interim Biogeographical Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) version 7 subregions. IBRA subregionsrepresent a landscape based approach to classifying the land surface, including attributes of climate, geomorphology, landform, lithology, and characteristic flora and fauna. Specialist ecological knowledge combined with appropriate regionaland continental scale biophysical data sets were interpreted to describe these regions. 419 IBRA sub regions exist across Australia.


Fig2.MarinebioregionsofAustraliaincludeecosystemsatsmallerscalesAustraliaisuniqueintheworldforitsdiversityofterrestrial,freshwaterandmarineecosystems.Manyoftheseterrestrial,freshwaterandmarineecosystemsareinpoorconditionandaredegradingfurther.Deterioratingecosystemconditionisdetrimentaltousandourland,waterandwildlife2.Thelimitedecosystemmonitoringtodatehasdemonstratedthistimeandagainfordecades2.

Terrestrial,FreshwaterandMarineecosystemsEcosystemscienceismulti-disciplinary.Marine,freshwaterandterrestrialeco-sciencesrequiredifferentskillsanddifferentmethodsandapproaches.Thechallengeindesigninganall-embracingecosystemsurveillancemonitoringprogramisthatoneapproachwouldbecometoocomplex.Thisblueprintthereforeaddressesterrestrialandfreshwaterecosystems.MarineecosystemsarebeingaddressedbytheNationalMarineScienceCommittee.MonitoringofmarineecosystemsisaddressedintheNationalMarineSciencePlan.


Climatechange,exoticpestsanddiseases,intensiveagriculturalpractices,alteredfireregimes,changedhydrologicalprocesses,significantlossesofnativespeciesandcommunities,over-extractionandpollutionofsurfaceandgroundwatersandmanyotherthreatsaffectAustralianecosystems.Whileecosystemrestorationisincreasinglyimportant,forexampleinagriculturallandscapes,weneedtopreventdegradationandconserveecosystemsasafirstpriority.

Source: Adapted from Tulloch et al. (2015), used under CC BY NC ND 4.0

Fig.3LossofvegetationandecosystemsacrossAustralia(fromSoE2016).Weneedmorecomprehensivemonitoringtoinformmanagementpolicyinanefforttopreventfurtherecosystemdegradationandspecieslosses2-4.CurrentandfuturegenerationsofAustraliansneedtounderstandpatternsofchangeinecosystems,andtomakeinformeddecisionsabouttheuseandmanagementoflandandsea-scapes1.


Agriculturedependsonhealthyecosystems

HalfourecosystemsoccuronagriculturallandsHealthyecosystemsareessentialforagricultureandecosystemservicessuchascleanwater,healthysoilsandairquality.Conversely,overhalfourecosystemsoccuronagriculturallands,anddependonfarmerstomaintainthem.TheGlobalAssessmentReportoftheBiodiversityandEcosystemServices(IPBES)Science-PolicyPlatformrecognizesthecriticalimportanceofagriculturallandsforecosystemsandbiodiversity.Importantly,actionsandpathwaystoachievinghealthyecosystemsrequire:

• promoting good agricultural and agroecological practices • multifunctional landscape planning (which simultaneously provides food security,

livelihood opportunities, maintenance of species and ecological functions), and • cross-sectoral integrated management5.

Surveillancemonitoringisnormalpracticeonagriculturallandsthatcovermorethan55%ofAustralia6,althoughitisofteninformalandadhoc.Farmersandagriculturallandmanagers,forinstance,usuallymonitorpestanimals,weeds,insectattackoncrops,diseasesandotherbiosecuritymatters.Monitoringofecosystemsandwildlife,someofthemostimportantelementsofagriculturalbiosecurity,howeverareuncommoninnationalbiosecurityconsiderations.Encouragingly,recognitionofthelinkagesbetweenwildlifeandecosystems,agricultureandpeopleisrisingandisnowonthenationalbiosecurityagenda7.


EcosystemmanagementdependsonmonitoringMonitoringbiodiversityandecosystemsisessentialto:

• supportrigorous,evidence-basedpoliciesanddecision-makingaroundterrestrial,marineandfreshwaterenvironmentaluseandmanagement;

• measureenvironmentalperformance;• triggermanagementactionstoprotectandmaintainbiodiversity

andecosystems;• assesseffectivenessofmanagementactions;• informourlegislativeobligationsandprecautions;• communicatewithournationalandinternationalcommunityand

thepublicaboutecosystemsandbiodiversityandtheirmanagement8-11.


Wehavecommittedtointernationalandnationalmonitoringofecosystems

EcologicallysustainabledevelopmentisacorecommitmentoftheAustraliangovernment.ItwasrecognizedintheEnvironmentProtectionandBiodiversityConservationAct1999,andtheUnitedNationsGeneralAssembly.Onaglobalscale,theissueofecologicallysustainabledevelopmenthasbeenontheagendafordecades.InSeptember2015,theUnitedNationsGeneralAssembly(andtheAustralianGovernment)adoptedthe2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopment(2030Agenda).The2030Agenda’s17SustainableDevelopmentGoalscutacrossdisciplines,sectorsandinstitutionalmandates12,13.

“22of44targetsunderSustainableDevelopmentGoalsarebeingunderminedbynegativetrendsinnature

anditscontributiontopeople”(IPBES2019)

AchievingSustainableDevelopmentGoalsdependsonecosystemsurveillancemonitoring.Withoutadequatemonitoring,wehavelimitedmeansofestablishingwhetherweareecologicallysustainableandwhetherweneedtotakeactiontorepairdamagedecosystems.Achievingthe2030Agendawilltakenewthinking:

workwillbenolongerconductedinsilos,butwillbeintrinsicallylinked.

Ahealthyenvironment,socialdevelopment,andsustainedandinclusiveeconomic

growthareallessentialforachievementofeachofthegoals2.Australiaalsohasinternationalobligationstosustainablymanageallinlandaquatic,estuarineandnearshoremarineecosystemsundertheRamsarConvention.TheRamsarConventioninAustraliaissupportedbytheEnvironmentProtectionandBiodiversityConservationAct1999(EPBCAct),theWaterAct2007andstateandterritorybasedlandandwaterplanninglegislation.Australiahas66Ramsar-listedwetlands.TheAustralianRamsarManagementPrinciplespromotenationalstandardsofmanagement,planning,environmentalimpactassessment,communityinvolvementandmonitoringforallAustralianRamsarwetlands.


Australia’sStateofEnvironment

TheStateofEnvironmentreportingsystem,whichAustraliahasundertakenfordecades,reportedin2016thatmanyofourcommitmentsandgoalshavenotbeenachieved2(seeBox).


InadequateEcosystemsurveillancemonitoringfeatureshighlyinStateoftheEnvironmentReport2016

Environmentalpoliciesandmanagementpracticeshaveachievedsomeimprovementsoverthepasthalf-decadebut,alarmingly,theconditionoftheenvironmentispooranddeterioratingandconcernwasexpressedabout:

• biodiversitycontinuingtodeclineacrossAustralia• recentextinctionsofnativespecies• morepopulatedcoastalareasdeteriorating• rapidlygrowingcitieswhereenvironmentally-sensitiveurbanplanningcould

improveoutcomesforecosystems• the extensive rangelands that comprise the dominant land use in Australia,

whereover-grazingisconsideredamajorthreattobiodiversity• theMurray-DarlingBasinwhereover-allocationofwaterremainsamajorissue• abandonedminedlands:60000byrecentestimates14,15• forestandwoodlandecosystemsaffectedbyalteredfireregimes.

Since 2016, our marine environments have deteriorated further, with mass coralbleachingoftheGreatBarrierReefandotherAustraliancoralreefsystems.The back-to-back (2016 and 2017) mass bleaching was unprecedented and collectively affected two thirds of the Great Barrier Reef (Australian Institute of Marine Sciences, 2018). The main pressures facing the Australian environment today are the same as inpreviousdecades:climatechange,landusechange,hydrologicalchange,pollution,habitatfragmentationanddegradation,andinvasivespecies.In addition, the interactions between these and other pressures are resulting incumulativeimpacts,amplifyingthethreatsfacedbyAustralianecosystems.KeychallengestotheeffectivemanagementofAustralianecosystemsremain:

• nooverarchingnationalpolicy• poorcollaborationandcoordinationofpolicies,decisionsandmanagement• follow-throughfrompolicytoactionislacking• dataandlong-termmonitoringareinadequate• resources for environmental monitoring, data synthesis, management

andrestorationareinsufficient.• understanding of, and capacity to identify and measure, cumulative

impactsisinadequate• limited public awareness of ecosystem services and intrinsic value of

Australia’sdiverse,nativeecosystems.Meetingthesechallengesrequires:

• nationalleadership• integratedpoliciesandadaptivemanagementactions• improvedsupportfordecision-making• amorestrategicfocusonplanningforasustainablefuture• new,reliablesourcesoffinancing• improvedcommunicationandpubliceduationofvalueofecosystems.


MonitoringecosystemsandbiodiversityAustraliaratifiedtheUnitedNationsConventiononBiological

Diversityin1993,recognizingtheimportanceofouruniquenaturalecosystemsandbiodiversity

TheConventiononBiologicalDiversity(CBD)isaninternationallegally-bindingtreatywiththreemaingoals:

• conservationofbiodiversity;• sustainableuseofbiodiversity;• fairandequitablesharingofthebenefitsarisingfromtheuseofgeneticresources.

Itsoverallobjectiveistoencourageactionswhichwillleadtoasustainablefuture.UnlessAustraliarecognisestheroleofecosystemsinthesupportandmaintenanceofourdiverseplant,animalandmicrobialspecies,thenitwillfailtomeetthesethreegoals.TheCBDcontainsfivestrategictargets:

• Strategic Goal A: Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss bymainstreamingbiodiversityacrossgovernmentandsociety

• Strategic Goal B: Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promotesustainableuse

• StrategicGoalC:Toimprovethestatusofbiodiversitybysafeguardingecosystems,speciesandgeneticdiversity

• Strategic Goal D: Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystemservices

• Strategic Goal E: Enhance implementation through participatory planning,knowledgemanagementandcapacitybuilding

Australian governments developed the first National Strategy for the Conservation ofAustralia’sBiologicalDiversityin1996-anationalapproachtobiodiversityconservation16.ThiswasprecededbytheNationalConservationStrategyforAustralia(1983)17.Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010-203016 commits to establishing anationallong-termbiodiversitymonitoringsystemtodeterminethestatusandtrendsofAustralia’sbiodiversityandecosystems.

Todate,wehavenotdevelopednorimplementedthissystem.Oursurvivaliscriticallydependentonlookingafterournaturalenvironmentsandtheir

biodiversity–themanydifferentkindsofanimals,plantsandmicrobes,andtheecosystemsthatsupportthem.

Thiswebofliferepresentsourstoreofnaturalcapitalandfromitwegetthethingswetake

forgrantedeachday…cleanair…freshwater…foodsandfibres.

Wegetartisticandspiritualinspirationfrombiodiversity…

Theyarefundamentaltoourphysical,social,culturalandeconomicwell-being16


1.2 What is ecosystem surveillance monitoring? Ecosystemmonitoringspansspatialscalestoencompassecosystemprocessesthatoperateatthesedifferentscales.Monitoringatdifferentscalesandintensityareusedincombinationtoproducereliableanalysesofthestateoftheecosystemsandpredictivemodels18.Ecologistsgenerallyapplythreescalesofmonitoringfromcoarseremotesensingsuchasfromsatellites,todetailedground-basedinvestigations(Fig1).Therearenosharpboundariesbetweenthethreescalesofmonitoring,andeachcommonlyinformsothersandcanusethefullrangeoftoolsavailabletoecologists.It’sthefocusandpurposethatdiffer.

Fig.1Threescalesofmonitoring;adaptedfromEyreetal.201118.Ecosystemsurveillancemonitoringdetectschangeovertimeinecosystemsandspecies,providingearlywarningofunexpectedchanges,sothatmanagementresponsescanbeinitiated.Surveillancemonitoringcanoccuratallspatialscales:landscape(e.g.aerialimagerytotrackcloudformation),multiplesites(e.g.TERNSuperSites)andsinglesites(e.g.rarespeciesmonitoringprograms)(Figure1).Essentialtoeffectivemonitoringare:

• robustandflexibledesignandmethods;• continuityoverreasonabletimeperiodsthatmatchtemporalscaleof

ecosystemdynamicsunderscrutiny;• adequateresources;• capabledatamanagementsystems,particularlyaccessibility;


• integrationwithmanagement;• multi-organisationalsupport;• leadershipandhighlyskilledstaff;• effectivecommunicationandengagementwithpeople10,19.

Surveillancemonitoringhasbeeninfluentialintriggeringandinformingurgentconservationactions20.Importantly,surveillancemonitoringprovidesearlywarningofdetrimentalchange21totheecosystemsandspeciesunderstudy.Ecosystemsurveillancemonitoringprogramsmusthaveclearquestionsandobjectives22–howareourecosystemschanging?Thesecanincludetheeffectsofdifferentmanagementpractices,ortrendsinspeciesandecosystemsduetoclimatechange.Theyarenotusuallydesignedtotestscientifichypotheses23.Ifachangeisdetected,targetedmonitoringandresearchisrequiredtoexaminethecauses.Landscapemonitoringprovidesbroadoverviewsofsoils,vegetationandhydrologicalchange,andverylargeareascanbemonitoredrelativelyinexpensivelythroughremotesensing.Ground-basedsamplingisrequiredtovalidatethemodelsthatinterpretoutputsfromremotelysensedtechnologies.Australiaalreadyhasanumberofrobustlandscapemonitoringsystemsinplace,includingprogramssuchasthoserunbytheTerrestrialEcosystemsResearchNetwork.Landscapemonitoringbyremotesensingdoesnotsubstituteforpoint-basedsurveillancemonitoring.Itdoesnotidentifyspeciesorevenecosystemsbutusesinformationobtainedfrompoint-basedstudiesandremotesensedtechnologies.Landscapemonitoringinsteaddetectschangeinpatternsandsignaturessuchascoverandgreennessofvegetation,seasurfacetemperaturesandtheextentofwaterbodiesholdingfreshwater.Targetedmonitoring,bycontrast,focussesonparticularspeciesorecosystems,andoftenisdesignedasaresearchprojecttoanswerspecificresearchquestions,especiallythosethatinformmanagement.Targetedmonitoringisallaboutprocess–whyarethingschanging,andwhatactiondoweneedtotaketoinfluencethatchange?Targetedmonitoringmayuselandscapemonitoringforplanningandanalysis,andsurveillancemonitoringtoframequestionsanddeterminethebroaderapplicabilityoftargetedresearch.Asubstantialamountoftargetedmonitoringisundertakenbygovernmentagencies,universitiesandrelatedinstitutions,oftenfocussedonthreatenedspeciesandcommunities9.


1.3 How long will it take? Monitoringofecosystemstodetectchangesinconditionisanon-goingprocess.Ittakesconsiderabletimeandcandiffermarkedlydependingonecosystemtypeandhowstronglythedriversofchangeareacting.Monitoringmayspandecadestocenturies,becausewealwaysneedtomonitorourecosystems.Itneedstoberepeatedoverperiodsofyearstodecades,accordingtotheneedtodetectchangeinspeciesorecosystems9.Itisjustlikemonitoringourhumanhealth,water,air,populationtrendsandweatherwhichareallon-going.Ecosystemsurveillancemonitoringthereforeneedstobecomestandardlong-termpractiseforenvironmental,naturalresourceandconservationagencies.It’snotastop-startprocess.

1.4 What will be monitored? Decidingonwhattomonitoriscrucialintheapproachtomonitoring.Practitionershavegenerallyreachedconsensusaboutthepurposes,benefitsandconstraintsofmonitoring19.Significantadvancesinmonitoringhavebeenmaderecently9,24.Datacollectionisfocussedonthespeciesandecosystemsthatrespondtoawiderangeoffactorsthatcausechange21.Monitoringneedstobefitforpurpose9,25,26andadaptedtothelocations,speciesandecosystemsbeingmonitored.Surveillancemonitoringoftenaddressesabroadarrayofmeasuredvariablesdeterminedbyunderlyingtheoriesofchangingspeciesorecosystemproperties27,suchasdeclinesofspeciesacrossalandscape,orconcernsabouteffectsofland-uses,climatechangeoraltereddisturbanceregimessuchasfire,floodornutrientinputregime.Asanexample,theEssentialBiodiversityVariablesprogramhelpstoresolveinconsistenciesworld-wideinapproachestowhattomonitor.Ittakestheapproachthateachvariablerequiresmonitoringattimescales,frequenciesanddurationsappropriatetoeachvariable.So,annualmonitoringofsomeelementsmaybeappropriate,andmonitoringat5to10yearintervalsmaybemoreappropriateforotherelements28.EssentialBiodiversityVariablesallowobservationandreportingofbiodiversitychange29.EBVscharacterizeaspectsofbiodiversity,functioningastheinterfacebetweenrawdataandindicators30(Table1).


Table1-ExamplesofcandidateEssentialBiodiversityVariables28EBV Class EBV examples Measurement and

scalability Temporal sensitivity

Genetic composition Allelic diversity Genotypes of selected species

Generation time

Species populations Abundances and distributions

Counts of presence surveys for groups of species

1 to >10 years

Species traits Phenology Timing of leaf coloration 1 year Community composition

Taxonomic diversity Consistent multi-taxa surveys and metagenomics at selected locations

5 to >10 years

Ecosystem structure Habitat structure Remote sensing of cover 1 to 5 years Ecosystem function Nutrient retention Nutrient output/input

ratios 1 year

Thesemeasurementvariablesneedtobeadaptedtotheindividualneedsofcountriesandregions,andthespeciesandecosystemsofinterest.Monitoringisessentialtounderstandingecosystemcyclesandtrendsandfrequentlyleadstoresearchquestions31,32.Monitoringrequiresthesameskill-setsandmethodologicalthinkingasotherresearch.

1.5 Benefits of ecosystem monitoring/surveillance

BigwinsfrommonitoringReturnsoninvestmentinthemonitoringofecosystems33canbesubstantial.Forexample,monitoringofthethreatenedBurrowingBettong,amedium-sizedmarsupial,intheAridRecoveryprojectenabledmanagementofthepopulationstoallowrecovery34.Monitoringofcoralreefbleaching35andcrownofthornsstarfish36haveenabledpeopletotakeactiononclimatechange,waterpollutionandreefdamage.InsectpopulationsacrossGermanyhavecrashedby75%asobservedbymonitoringandreviewsofcitizensciencereports37.TropicalinsectsinnaturalrainforestsinPuertoRicohavealsocrashedoverthepast40years38.Theseinsectcrashesarealarmingecologistsandtheagriculturalindustry.InAustraliawehavenoideawhetherornotinsectpopulationshavecrashedbecausethereisnosystematicmonitoring.Insectsandotherarthropodsdrivemostofouragriculture,sotheconsequencesofcrashesofpopulationsarelikelytobesevere.


CaseStudy:CriticallyendangeredWoylie–theBrush-tailedBettong

Woylies,smallwallabies,wereoncecommonacrosssouthernandsouth-westernAustralia,butpopulationscrashedandbythe1960s,onlysmallisolatedpopulationsremained.Energeticeffortstocontroltheirmainpredators,theintroducedRedFox,enabledtheirpopulationstorecover,sothattheirendangeredstatuswasdown-gradedfromVulnerabletoConservation-Dependentin1996.ImageofWoyliehere–thisoneisaWWFimageandIhaven’taskedforpermissiontouse.PerhapsAdrianWaynehasonehecoulddonate.

Surveillancemonitoringoverthenextdecadebypeoplefamiliarwiththepopulationsraisedconcernsthatthepopulationappearedtohavedroppedintheearly2000s.ARecoveryTeamre-establishedformermonitoringsitestoinvestigate,andfoundthatthepopulationhad,alarmingly,crashedbyover90%.ThespeciesisnowconsideredCriticallyEndangered,withatleastonepopulationfunctionallyextinct39,40.IntenserecoveryactivityhasbeenunderwaywithexpertteamsaddressingtheresearchandmanagementneedstohelptheWoylierecoverfromnear-extinction41.SurveillancemonitoringwascriticaltotakingactiontopreventtheWoyliefromgoingextinct.


BiglossesfromnotmonitoringConversely,manycriseshavebeenmissedduetoinadequateorabsentmonitoring.ExtinctionsofhundredsofspeciesoffrogsandotheramphibiansinAustralia42andworld-wide43aretheresultofadevastatingepidemiccausedbyChytridfunguswhichoriginatedinAsia.Bythetimeitwasdetected,manyspecieswereeitherextinctorapproachedextinction,allbecauseweweren’tlooking.DevastatinglossesofmangrovesintheGulfofCarpentariaweredetectedbychancebyAboriginalrangersandenvironmentalconsultants44.Mangrovedecimationwasanearlywarningofthedevastationcausedbyglobalheating.Crashesofflyingfoxpopulationsduetoheatwavesanddiseases,resultinginlossofpollinationvectorsforeucalyptsandforfruitcrops45wereobservedbynumerouscitizensandreportedinnewspapers,butbecausewedon’thavesystematicmonitoringofthisgroupofspecies,detectionwasslow.Thedeathsoftensofthousandsofflyingfoxeswasanotherwarningoftheeffectsofglobalheating.

1.6 The challenges of ecosystem surveillance monitoring Wecannotmeasureeverything,sowhatwemeasurehastobeappropriateandmeaningful.Thischallengesscientists,becausewearetryingtodistilthecomplexityofbiodiversityintoalimitednumberofessentialvariables.Challengesinclude:

• identifyingcriticalvariablesfortrackingecosystems,• translatinginformationbetweendifferentbiologicalandgeographical

realms(e.g.terrestrial,freshwaterandmarine),• harmonizingdifferentmethodsanddataformeasuringandrecording

differentcomponentsofecosystemsandbiodiversity,• selectingappropriateunitsandscalesofmeasurementtoensure

comparabilitybetweenEssentialBiodiversityVariables30,46,• identifyingearlywarningsignalsofecosystemdecline,• trackingandinterpretingecosystemdynamicsthatexceedlifetimesof

scientists,• timelyactiononmonitoringoutcomes47.

Processesanddecisions,suchastheselectionofecosystemsandspeciestomonitor,areofteninfluencedbyexternalfactorsandinternalpriorities19.Thesefactorsincludefinancesandpolitics19.


2 Enabling ecosystem surveillance

2.1 The current state of ecosystem monitoring in Australia

Weneedanationallyconsistent,integratedecosystemsurveillancemonitoringprogramthatcrosses

jurisdictionalboundariesAustraliahasmultiplelocalizedecosystemmonitoringprojectsandprogramsfocussedonparticularmanagementissuesorjurisdictions.Theyareconductedbygovernmentdepartments,non-governmentorganisations,universities,resourceandprimaryindustrybusinessesandconsultants.However,wehaveveryfewlong-termecosystemmonitoringprogramsoverareaslargerthanecosystemsorcatchments,atregulartimeperiods,andinstandardisedways.Regrettably,wehavenonationalsystemforthecollection,analysis,evaluationandreportingofecosystemmeasurements2,3,48-52.Thisisinstarkcontrasttoourwell-establishedweather-stationnetwork,ourcensusofhouseholdsandourreportingofeconomicindicators1.EachoftheStateoftheEnvironmentreports48andstrategiesthatAustraliahasdevelopedsince1983hasrecognizedtheurgencyoftheneedtoaddressbiodiversityconservation.Thegovernment’s5-yearreviewoftheBiodiversityConservationStrategyfoundsimilarproblems.AnumberofkeychallengestotheeffectivemanagementoftheAustralianenvironmentremain:

• anoverarchingnationalfortheprotectionandsustainablemanagementofAustralia’senvironmentislacking.Thisneeds:

o specificactionprogramsandpolicytopreserveandrestorenatural

capitalandouruniqueenvironments,takingintoaccountclimatechange

o complementarypolicyandstrengthenedlegislativeframeworksatthenational,stateandterritorylevels

o efficient,collaborativeandcomplementaryplanninganddecision-makingprocessesacrossalllevelsofgovernment,withclearlinesofaccountability

o theunderstandingof,andcapacitytoidentifyandmeasurecumulativeimpactsisinadequate,whichreducesthepotentialforcoordinatedapproachestotheirmanagement


• collaborationandcoordinationofpolicies,decisionsandmanagementarrangementsexistsacrosssectorsandbetweendifferentmanagers(publicandprivate)mustbeimproved

• follow-throughfrompolicytoactionisnecessary

• dataandlong-termmonitoringmustbeimproved

• monitoringtimeframesaretooshort• resourcesforenvironmentalmanagementandrestorationareinsufficient

• existingmonitoringeffortsneedtobeleveragedoradaptedtomeetthese

challenges

2.2 A national ecosystem surveillance monitoring and reporting system TheAustraliangovernment’sNationalScienceStatementof2017recognizestheimportanceandvalueoflong-termscienceandmonitoring,asdoestheDevelopingNorthernAustraliapolicyandAustralia’sTerrestrialBiodiversityAssessmentof20094.TherecentroadmapdevelopedforAustralia’sNationalCollaborativeResearchInfrastructureSchemerequiresthedevelopmentofanationalenvironmentalpredictionsystem.Wearenotachievingthesecommitmentsandtheurgencyofactiontoprotecthabitatandsaveecosystemsandspecieshasincreased.Withoutlong-termdata,meetingourgoalsandthedevelopmentofanenvironmentalpredictionsystem53areimpossible.Eachjurisdiction,andtheFederalGovernment,haveinplacelegislationthatprotectsbiodiversityandtheenvironment.Mostofthelegislationisinneedofmajorrevisiontoreflectthecurrenturgencyofenvironmentaldeteriorationandlossofbiodiversity54.

Alongtermnationalecosystemsurveillancemonitoringandreportingsystemisessential

Existingecosystemsurveillancemonitoringdifferssubstantiallyacrossjurisdictionalborders,andneedstobemademorecompatibleandconsistent.Anationalbodywillprovidethisoversightandmuchneededconsistency.Anationalbodywouldalsoseekalignmentwithglobaleffortstoenableglobalcomparisons.Sharingmonitoringdataandanalysesareessentialifwearetoprovideanationalpictureofthestateofourecosystemsandspecies33andtoengagethevotingpublic.Speciesandecosystemsdistributionsdon’tstopatstateborders.


Theyaredependantonmorethanonejurisdiction’smanagementactionsinordertosurviveandthrive33.Asuitableplatformfordatasharingneedstobedeveloped.Thisplatformneedstoaccommodatedifferentapproachesusedbyacademicresearchers,governmentmonitoringscientistsandconsultants.Anationalbodycoulddesignandimplementthissystem.


Enabling Condition 1. Socio-Political commitment Society,Governments,InstitutionsandScientistsmustbecommittedtotheprincipleofecosystemsurveillancemonitoringHealthyecosystemsareimportanttoallofus,forourownhealth,andforsafeguardingtheair,water,foodandfibrequalityassociatedwiththem.Healthyecosystemsarevitaltohealthyagriculture18,oureconomyandsociety.Ecosystemsurveillancemonitoringkeepschecksonthehealthofecosystems.Ecosystemscienceproviderobust,relevantinformationtoconnectmonitoringandresearchwithpolicy46.Itneedsthesupportofpoliticians,policy-makersandthepublic.Ecosystemmonitoringisanurgentpriorityandneedstobefundedandresourcedoverthelongterm55,56.Thechallengeforgovernmentistosetprioritiesanddevelopcoherentpoliciesthatrespectthediversityofinterestsintheenvironmentandnaturalresources,andatthesametimeensurehealthyecosystems.Collaborationbetweenecologists,policy-makers,socialscientists,government,industrystakeholdersandthecommunityisneededtoproducealong-termvisionthatfacilitatesecologicalsustainabilityandinclusiveandadaptiveapproachestolanduseandmanagement57.Therearemanycompetinginterestsforfundingandresources.‘Culturalbarriers’needtobeovercometoaccommodatetheinfluenceofdifferentnaturalresourceuseindustries,ecologicalscience,andculturesinherenttoeducation,IndigenousAustralia,economicsandpolicy57.Attaininganationalcommitmenttomonitoringourecosystemsisanon-goingchallenge56,58.Australianeedstoovercomethelackofaccountabilityandresponsibilityforpreventingdecliningecosystemandbiodiversitycondition8,9,59.


Enabling Condition 2. Financial commitment Fundsandresourcesmustbecommittedtoecosystemsurveillanceandtolong-termecologicalresearch

Investingonourecosystemsisaninvestmentinoursustainablefuture

Australiashouldbeaimingforinvestmentinenvironmentandbiodiversityconservationtobeincreasedsubstantiallysothatweareabletomonitorthestateandtrendsofecosystemcondition.Asignificantproportionofthisinvestmentmustbeallocatedtoecosystemsurveillancemonitoringinordertomonitorchangeandinformmanagement.Alackoftransparencymakesit‘impossible’60tocalculateexactlyhowmuchisspentbyAustraliangovernmentsduetodoubledippingandalackofuniformaccountingpracticesamongthethreelevelsofgovernment60,61.TheCommonwealthenvironmentbudgetshouldberestoredtoatleast2013levels,reversingthe40%declineofrecentyearsthathasunderminedtheGovernment’sabilitytoeffectivelyplanormanageforhealthyandresilientecosystems9,62.Theamountneededtoberestoredisaround$450million,totallingaround$1.4billionwhichwasthe2013budgetallocationinrealdollars(notcountingforinflation).SeverecutsarenotconfinedtotheFederalbudget,buthavebeenmadeineachStateandTerritory62.Allocationoffundstospecificactionsandtargetsmustbebasedonthebestscientificadvicetoensurethatecosystemmonitoringgoalsareachievedandtheinvestmentisusedwisely.

LearninglessonsfrompastprogramsAustralia’ssurveillanceandmonitoringeffortsarerecognizedasbeinginadequateforoursustainability1,63.Wehaveahistoryofspendingmoneyandresourcesonconservationandofcommencingnewinitiativesandthenstoppingthem64.Thisiswastefulasbreaksincontinuityoflong-termecologicaldatasetssignificantlyreducetheirvalueanddisruptkeyinformationonenvironmentalandecosystemchange.Wehaveahistoryofsubstantialfunding,throughprogramssuchastheNaturalHeritageTrustprogram,withatotalinvestmentof$2.8billionovermorethanadecade65.Unfortunatelytheprogramdidnotstrengthenthecapacitytomonitororreportonrealtrendsinbiodiversity66,65.Therewaslimitedinformationtosupportintermediateorlongertermenvironmentaloutcomes18.


Subsequentmajorprograms,suchasCaringforOurCountry(whichsubsumedtheNHTprogram)andtheBiodiversityFundsharedsimilarproblems.TheBiodiversityFundwaswortharound$900millionover2011-2019,butmonitoringandevaluationofprojectoutcomeswereconsideredtobeinadequateandfundingwas‘re-allocated’67.Foraccountability,allecosystemmanagementprogramsneedrobustmonitoringofecosystemsandbiodiversity.Fundingshouldbeallocatedonastrategicandsystematicbasisfortheenduringoutcomesrequired.


Enabling Condition 3. Robust consistent methodology and program design Theremustbeconsensusonthesurveillancemonitoringnetworkandonthemethodsused.Weneedarobustecosystemsurveillancemonitoringprogramandconsistentmethodsthatallowustointerpretdataacrosstemporalandspatialscales.ThemanyanalysesofmonitoringandsurveillanceprogramsacrossAustraliahavefocussedstronglyonthemethodsandprocedures18,25,33,57,68,69.Thesearevitalinensuringthatecosystemsurveillancemonitoringisscientificallyrigorous,producesmeaningfulandunambiguousresults,addressesecosystemandcommunityneeds,andiscommunicatedwelltogovernmentpolicy-makers,politiciansandthepublic.Buttheyarenotsufficientinthemselves.Theprogrammustbeconsistentandcomparableacrossjurisdictionalboundariesandacrossdisciplinesandinstitutions.Thisextendstoconsistentnationalandregionalmonitoringandsharingofsuchinformation28,andconsensusaboutwhattomonitor28,70,71.ThisproblemisnotconfinedtoAustralia.Thereisnoglobal,harmonizedsystemfordeliveringregular,timelydataonecosystemchange28andthisisbeingaddressedbytheinternationalcommunity,includingAustralia,throughprocessessuchastheUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgram.Theseareproblemsthatthescientificcommunitycanandwillresolve,giventheopportunity.Forexample,asimilarsetofkeycomponentsforgoodmonitoringisrecognizedbypractitioners19.Theycanbeusedtobuildarobustandharmonizedprogram.Thelimitstoenablingecosystemsurveillancemonitoringarenotscientificortechnical,butfinancial,institutionalandrelatedtosocietyandgovernmentperspectivesandpriorities55.


Enabling Condition 4. Leveraging and adapting existing monitoring systems Theecosciencecommunityandgovernmentsneedtoovercomeidentifiedshortcomingsincoordinationandharmonizationofmonitoring,andresolve‘transboundaryenvironmentalissues’2,58Monitoringprotocolsandstandardmethodshavebeenestablishedfordecades,soalotoftimeandefforthasbeeninvestedinestablishingmonitoring9.Numerouslong-termandshort-termecosystemandspeciesstudieshavebeenestablishedacrossAustralia68,21.National,StateandTerritorydepartmentsandprogramscouldbeutilisedforanationalframeworkofcost-effectiveecosystemsurveillancemonitoring.Tothisend,effortstoachieveagreementacrossjurisdictionalboundariesarebeingmade.TheseincludetheNationalCollaborativeResearchInfrastructureSchemeandtheTerrestrialEcosystemResearchNetwork.TheAustralianDynamicEcosystemModelsProjectoftheDepartmentoftheEnvironmentandEnergyandCSIROisdevelopingapproachestosurveillancemonitoring.TheEcosystemScienceCouncil’sproposalforanEnvironmentalMonitoringandManagementAgencyorindependentCommissioncouldalsotakeacoordinatingrole.OtherpotentiallyusefulmonitoringprogramsincludeAusplotsRangelandsandAusplotsForests,AuscoverandtheformerAustralianCollaborativeRangelandInformationSystem(ACRIS)monitoringsites.Re-establishingoldermonitoringsiteshasprovidedexcellentdataontrendsinpopulationandabundanceofmultiplespecies,evenifthesiteshadnotbeenmonitoredforaperiodofyears32.TheIndigenousProtectedAreanetworkprotectsalmosthalfournationalconservationestate,andemploysasubstantialnumberofIndigenousRangersandadvisersacrossAustralia.Inadditiontorangersonthenationalparksandreservesprotectedareanetwork,IndigenousRangerscouldprovideasubstantialworkforceforecosystemmonitoring.Somearealreadyprovidingthisservice,albeitonlimitedrecurrentfunding.Collationandreviewofthesemonitoringactivitiesshouldbeundertakentoprovideacomprehensivepictureofsitesthatcouldbere-establishedforecosystemsurveillancemonitoring.


Allexistingmonitoringprogramsareinneedofrestoredfundingtocontinue24,72.Increasedfundingisneededtoprovidefullecosystemcoverageandadequaterepresentation,asmostecosystemsandspeciesarepoorlymonitored24,34.


Enabling Condition 5. Communication and engagement Ecologistshaverecognizedthatcommunicatingthevalueandimportanceofmonitoringandresearch18,25,56iscriticaltochangingcommunityattitudestoecosystemsandbiodiversityandthethreatsimpactinguponthem.TheBiodiversityStrategy,forinstance,recognizedtheneedtoengage,guideandcommunicateitsobjectivestoallaudiences58.EngagingallAustraliansinecosystemandbiodiversityconservationisatoppriority16.Ecosystemscientistsgenerallypublishtheirworkinarangeofforums,includingscientificpeer-reviewedarticles,butalsothroughpolicyandmanagementadviceatmanylevels.Wealsoworkwithmanagersanddecisionmakerstodetermineresearchandinvestigationneeds.Butmostpeopledon’treadorengagewiththeseformsofcommunication.Weneedtore-thinkhowweconveyourmessages,throughsocialmedia,andthrough‘traditional’media.Weneedtoadvocateforecosystemscienceinmoreeffectiveandengagingways,frompubchatstoradio,televisionandothermediainterviewsandstories.Wealsoneedtomakeourstoriesmoreaccessible,throughdashboardsandothervisualmeans.Togainthesupportofpeopleandgovernmentsofthenecessityofecosystemmonitoring,ecologistsneedtodemonstratethevalueoftheexpenditureonmonitoring,andreal,positiveandclearoutcomesofmonitoringtosociety56.Thesemayrelatetoinformingmanagementactions,ortodemonstrateanimprovementinpopulationsofthreatenedspecies,orwarnofdeterioratingecosystemcondition19.Weneedtodevelopcommonlanguagesamongallinvolvedinecosystemmonitoringandmanagement.Farmersandgraziersmanageecosystemsforproductionacross55%ofAustralia.Theyunderstandandtalkthelanguageofconservation of the diversity of genes, varieties, cultivars, breeds, landraces and species5 of cattle, grains and other crops, for instance. Relating these knowledges to ecosystem health in terms that all sides understand is essential. Indigenousandnon-Indigenousrangersmanagearound19%ofAustralia’slandsandseas.Theyseeandmanageecosystemsdaily.Manyareinvolvedwithecosystemmonitoringandarewell-placedtocontributetothemonitoring.Appropriateengagementisalsoinneedofimprovement.Box


Languageofthescienceofararepossumisnotinfluencingdecision-makers

ThebeautifulLeadbeater’sPossumGymnobelideusleadbeaterihasbeenstudiedintensivelyfor over 30 years. More than 220 scientific publications and eight books have beenpublishedaboutthespecies.

Yet critical forest habitat hascontinued to be harvested,successive laws and policiesdetrimentaltothespecieshavebeen implemented, and theLeadbeater’sPossumhasbeendowngraded fromEndangeredto Critically Endangered overthesameperiod73.PhotoTimBawden,suppliedtoAtlasofLivingAustralia,CC-BY

Clearly,theimpendingextinctionoftheLeadbeater’sPossumhasnotattractedsufficientattentionofthecommunityandpoliticaldecision-makersforactiontobetaken.Socialmediacampaigns,articlesinmagazinesandnewspapers,andonTVandradioareneededmorethanevertogainpublicsupportforthisspecialanimal.Urbanpeopleoftenlackcontactwithlandandecosystems,yettheyhaveastronginfluenceoverpoliciesthataffectecosystemsandnaturalresources.Theyalsolackthelanguageandunderstandingofpeoplewhoworkwiththenaturalworld.Relatingurbanpeople’sdailylivestotheirdependenceonnaturalecosystemsthatincludeagricultureisnecessary.Conceptsandtermsneedtobemuchbetterdevelopedandexplained,sothatthelanguageisunderstoodbyurbandwellers.Weallneedtoimprovecommunicationandengagementbetweenthesesectors.Oneapproachiscitizenscienceprograms.Landcarehasbeenactiveinengagingcity-basedandcountrypeople.Communityconservationgroupshavealsohadpositiveimpacts.Ecosystemscientistscanalsocontributetothesesharedunderstandingsandimprovedengagement.


3 Program Design Societyexpectsthatscientificinvestigationwillresultinahighlevelofcertainty.Rigourininvestigationsandanalysesiscrucial.Anecosystemsurveillanceprogramneedstobeexplicitinwhatithopestoachieve.Itneedsclearobjectivesandoutcomes.EcosystemsurveillancemonitoringshouldprovideAustralianswithaclear,unambiguouspictureofthestateandtrendsofourenvironment,species,ecosystemsandvariablesassociatedwiththem.Themonitoringprogrammustprovideboththeevidenceofthestateofourecosystemsandapredictivetoolthatenablesustoanticipatetheresultsandconsequencesofbusiness-as-usualorchangesinpractices.Samplingneedstobecapableofdetectingsurprises21,74.Italsoneedstobeadaptableandprovideevidence-basedsolutionsandproposedactionstoremedydetrimentalchangestoourecosystems9.Ecosystemsurveillancemonitoringshouldprovideinformationonthestatusandtrendsofecosystemsandspecies,relationshipsbetweenpopulationsanddistributionaltrendsandtheirthreateningprocesses.Itshouldprovideevidencefortheeffectivenessofmanagementtorecoverecosystemsandspecieswheretheyhavebeenaffectedbyanthropogenicfactors33,thatis,actionstakenbyus.


BoxMonitoringdesignprinciples

Monitoring design principles that are common for species and ecologicalcommunities21include:

• beingfitforpurpose;• buildingconceptualmodelsoffactorsthatpotentiallyinfluencechange;• taking place across sites that represent the species’ and ecosystems’

distributionandenvironmentalrange;• selectingsitesforstudyatspatialandthematicscalesadequatetodetect

change;• building in adequate replication and randomising locations of sample

sites;• selectingpractical,closelyassociatedandsensitiveresponsevariablesto

measure75;• samplingsufficientlyregularlytodetectchangeoftheecosystemsand

speciesofinterest;• runningfortimeperiodsthatarelongenoughtodetecttrends33;• managing data systematically and using appropriate methods of

statisticalinference21;• beingdesignedwithsufficientstatisticalpowerfordetectingchange76;• beingcoordinatedacrossjurisdictions,organisationsandstakeholders;• producing monitoring data that are publicly available and regularly

reported;• includingdemography,lifehistory,abundanceanddistributionaldataof

specieswherepossible33;• beingclearlylinkedtomanagement;• havinganeffectiveandexplicitcommunicationsstrategy.

Manymanagementagencieshaveadoptedthemonitoring,evaluationandreporting(MER)frameworktointegratemonitoringwithmanagement56.Thisframeworkisusefulandcanbeimprovedwithanmanagementapproach77.


4 Appendix – Policy brief

KeyIssuesfordecision-makers

Ecosystems,speciesandecosystemqualitynowandintothefuturerequireoururgentattention

Ø Australia’secosystemsprovideourlife-supportsystem.Theyunderpinallourfood,water,cleanairandsoils.Theyalsosupportournativespeciesandouragriculturalproducts.

Ø Ecosystemsarechangingfortheworseduetoouractions,andweneedtomonitorthemsothatwecanmanageandrestorethem.

Ø Itistoourdetrimentifwedon’tknowthestateofourecosystems.

Australia’secosystemsurveillancesystemswilltakeadvantageof21stcenturyenvironmentalmanagementandinnovationtechnologies

Ø Enormouspotentialexistsforbigdata,innovationandtechnologycontributingtoecosystemscience

Ø Returnsthroughregionaljobsandgrowthcanbesubstantial,includingthroughIndigenousandotherregionalemployment

Australiangovernmentshavepreviouslycommittedtoecosystemmonitoringthathasnevereventuated

Ø Implementingthoselong-standingcommitmentsrequiressupportbeyondelectioncycles

Ø Stoppingandstartingmonitoringprogramshasresultedinmassivelossesofinformationandwastedinvestment

Resourcesandfinancesareneededtoconductmonitoring

Ø Monitoringcostsmoney,butthecostofdoingnothingisfargreaterwhenecosystemscollapseandaffectouragriculture,water,soils,airandnativeplantsandanimals


EcosystemsurveillancemonitoringshouldprovideAustralianswithaclearpictureofthestateandtrendsofourenvironment,species,andecosystems

Ø Thescientificcommunityhastheknowledgeandskillstoimplementanationalmonitoringsystem

Ø Monitoringprogramsmustprovideevidenceofthechangingstateofourecosystemsaswellasforevidence-basedsolutions

Ø Monitoringshouldhavepredictivecapacitytoenableustoanticipatetheresultsandconsequencesofbusiness-as-usualandchangesinpractices

Ø Ecosystemmonitoringmustbeabletoinformpolicy46atallgovernancelevelsandinformalternativepolicypathways

Goodmonitoringisguidedbytherulesofscientificrigour

Ø Ecosystemsarecomplex,butourstrongknowledgebaseeablesustodesignmonitoringprogramsthatproducereliableandmeaningfulresults

Ø Samplingmustbesufficienttoaccountfornaturalvariation;methodsmustbefitforpurposeandprovideconsistentinformationonmeasuredvariables;andanalysesmustreflectthemostrecentscience

Scientificcommunicationandengagementiscrucialtoasuccessfulmonitoringprogram

Ø Scientistsshouldseekwideconsultationandcollaborationin

ecosystemsurveillancemonitoring.Earlyengagementandbuy-iniskeytosuccessfulprograms.

Ø Communicationandengagementbetweenlandholders,managers,ecosystemscientists,advisers,policy-makersandsocietyatlargeimprovesmonitoringfocusandoutcomes.

Ø Advancesincitizen-sciencehavecontributedtobettercommunicationandunderstanding.

Ø Commitmentisneededbyscientiststocommunicateoutcomesinawaythatmeetstheneedsofgovernmentandthepublic.


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