Pressures on natural resources - 2
Fragmentation
Most of the ACT’s endangered and vulnerable plants, animals and ecological communities are found in lowland areas where they are subject to pressures from urban development and expansion.
As Canberra expands and new urban areas are developed both in the ACT and nearby NSW, the remaining lowland ecological ecosystems are becoming more fragmented and isolated, reducing their resilience and long-term chances of survival. Edge pressures on vulnerable species and communities also increase as the boundaries of remaining woodlands and grasslands increase in length. Fragmentation may also occur through incursion of infrastructure (e.g. power transmission lines, tracks and roads) through natural areas.
Challenge: Limit fragmentation so that ecologically viable units remain.
Land use (December 2007) (Source: Parks, Conservation and Lands 2007)
Conservation areas – 54% (mainly in Namadgi National Park, Murrumbidgee River Corridor and Canberra Nature Park
Rural land – 23% (17% as 150 rural leases and 6% as government-managed rural managed land)
Roads, lakes, rivers, urban infrastructure – 10%
Urban areas – 8%
Forest plantations – 4% (mature and replanted pine in Kowen, Majura, Uriarra, Pierces Ck, and Ingeldene)
Water management – 3% (Lower Cotter)
Changing land use
Forestry – decreased by 6% since 2003
Conservation – increased from 52% to 54% since 1990
Urban areas – continuing to intensify and expand steadily (roughly 2000 houses each year)
Climate change
The climate of the ACT is changing. Warmer temperatures and windier conditions will result in greater evaporation. More frequent and severe storms and fl oods will result in less evenly spread rainfall. Less overall rainfall will result in reduced run-off. Increased use of heating and air conditioning is likely to exacerbate an already existing heat island effect that means Canberra is between 1°C and 2°C warmer than the surrounding countryside and storms approach but pass by the city.
Challenge: These changes pose significant challenges for natural and built environments – increasing demands on water and energy – and severely affecting the ability of native plants and animals to survive. Changed weather patterns will challenge species near their environmental edges; while more severe storms and rainfall in different seasons will lead to loss of resilience. Feral and pest plants and animals are likely to be favoured. Bushfires are likely to increase.
The ACT Government’s Climate Change Strategy 2007–2025, Weathering the Change, released in July 2007, includes the first of a series of five-year action plans aimed at reducing the 2000 emission levels by 60% by 2050. The strategy concentrates on:
- smarter use of resources
- designing and planning Canberra to be more sustainable
- building the ACT community’s capacity to adapt to and
manage both current and future changes to climate and - improving our understanding of climate change, its causes and effects, and how we need to respond.
Climate
Dry continental climate with hot summers and cold winters
Average temperatures: 22.5°C in summer, 10.8°C in winter
Average rainfall of 630 mm falling fairly evenly throughout the year
Modified waterway in Brisbane Avenue, Barton.
Photo Micheal Schultz
Photo Micheal Schultz
